Nasser Al-Khelaifi reaffirms PSG commitment amid Manchester United links

PSG's Portugese Football advisor Luis Campos (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's Qatari President Nasser Al-Khelaifi arrive for the ceremony the draw for the UEFA Champions League football tournament 2022-2023 in Istanbul on August 25, 2022. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has moved quickly to quash any links to Manchester United by reaffirming his commitment to the Parisiens.

Al-Khelaifi recently made the news when reports broke of his advisory role in Sheikh Jassim’s bid for Manchester United.

Here’s what he had to say (via BBC): “Paris St-Germain is my club, in my heart, and I have nothing to do with Manchester United. It makes me laugh. I am Qatari, right? If people ask me my opinion, I will answer them for sure – and that’s what they do.

I am talking about anyone, not just Manchester United. I will give them the experience that I have. That’s it.”

Al-Khelaifi’s name in the Manchester United takeover process set the footballing world alight. Amid an already complicated and convoluted process, the name of arguably world football’s most powerful individual at the moment was enough to get the eyes rolling.

The nature of Sheikh Jassim’s bid being state-backed was once again brought to the fore.

In such circumstances, it was inevitable that Al-Khelaifi would issue a statement because the news didn’t unsettle just one club, it rocked two. PSG are also going through another period of transition after losing their head coach and Lionel Messi.

The murmurs questioning Qatar’s commitment to PSG have grown louder recently since the World Cup in the country concluded last year. There have been talks about an investment in Tottenham as well.

Through that lens, the news of Al-Khelaifi being involved in Sheikh Jassim’s bid made people sit up and take notice.

It is unlikely that the noise quietens down despite the PSG president issuing a clarification. Sheikh Jassim has made a fifth, and apparently final bid. If he wins, there would be close monitoring of who the real power broker is.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi might have moved to quash the speculation, but the ramification of the PSG president’s name popping up in the Manchester United takeover process will remain huge.

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