How PSG may find blueprint for future in La Realpublished at 14:20
Paris St Germain v Real Sociedad (20:00 GMT)
Real Sociedad cannot match Paris St-Germain for glitz and glamour but the French giants may well look at their Basque visitors on Wednesday and see a blueprint for the future.
According to analysis by Transfermarkt, external, there are just three academy graduates in PSG’s Champions League squad – Presnel Kimpembe, Warren Zaire-Emery and Ethan Mbappe – compared to 13 at Real Sociedad, the most of any side left in the competition.
Wednesday’s last-16 first-leg meeting is another step on PSG’s bid for European success, something the club have craved for almost as long as they have witnessed young, talented Parisians slip through their grasp.
Kingsley Coman is the most obvious. Once the club’s youngest-ever player before being released to Juventus, he scored the winner as PSG lost their only Champions League final to Bayern Munich in 2020.
Other notable names formerly on PSG’s books include Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku, AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Real Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy, Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby and Juventus’ Timothy Weah.
That is despite Paris’ local league system, the Ligue de Paris Ile-de-France, boasting more players than the population of San Sebastian, where La Real are based.
PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi says the “flashy, bling-bling” era at PSG is over – and if that is true, he could do worse than look at how the club’s last-16 opponents have become one of Europe’s top producers of talent.
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
