PSG's stadium future hangs in the balance
Last week, Nasser Al-Khelaifi dropped a bombshell by explaining that PSG planned to leave Parc des Princes. Valerie Pecresse has reached out to the mayors of cities in Ile-de-France that could host PSG's new stadium.
The issue of selling Parc des Princes returned to the forefront of PSG's current affairs last week. While Anne Hidalgo continues to explain that Parc is not for sale, the Paris Council voted against the sale of the Saint-Cloud Gate venue. This was the last straw for the Parisian leaders. After a meeting at UEFA where he was re-elected for four years on the executive committee of the European body, Nasser Al-Khelaifi dropped a bombshell. "It's too easy to say now that the stadium is no longer for sale. We know what we want, we have spent years trying to buy Parc. It's over, now we want to leave Parc."
Pecresse wants a response before March 16
Since this controversial statement, the Paris City Hall, through some of its members, has been asking to resume discussions. If the capital's club were to leave Parc des Princes, Valerie Pecresse, president of the Ile-de-France region, has expressed her desire to help PSG in its intention to build a new stadium in the Paris region.
According to information from France Bleu Paris, last night, the official contacted the mayors of the Francilian cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants willing to host PSG's new venue via WhatsApp. In her message, Valerie Pecresse indicates "having been contacted by the club president to evaluate other sites in Ile-de-France." The radio station also reports that the president of the Ile-de-France region explained that the investigations "focus on a 50-hectare site close to road and collective transportation, which could accommodate a stadium and hotel infrastructure." In her conversations with mayors who have land reserves or sufficient buildable land and who would be interested in the construction of PSG's possible future stadium, she requests to be contacted before March 16.
"You can help us instead of stabbing us in the back"
France Bleu Paris explains that in the responses received, Jacques Myard, mayor of Maisons-Laffitte, says he has another project underway for the city's racetrack. Arnaud Pericard, mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, speaks of "a highly sensitive issue." In this conversation, Emmanuel Gregoire, deputy mayor of Paris, rebuked Valerie Pecresse. "Dear Valerie, we have a stadium at Porte de Saint-Cloud that is ready for renovation. If you think PSG should stay at Parc des Princes, you can help us instead of stabbing us in the back." A saga that seems to have no end.