Xavi Simons could leave PSV without Champions League

A few days ago, PSV forward and former PSG player Xavi Simons made the headlines again as a cheap buyout clause present in his contract was revealed. He's now back in the spotlight after some of his interests were revealed this weekend.

The Dutch press opened the Xavi Simons file again on Saturday to question the future of the senior international in his native country. According to multiple outlets, Simons is only interested in playing for a club qualified for the group stage of the Champions League next season, which could force him out of PSV this summer.

Contrary to the Ligue 1 and other strong leagues across the continent, the Eredivisie only offers one direct place to the UCL with one more for the qualifying stage of the competition. PSV is currently in third place behind Feyenoord (70 points) and Ajax (tied at 62 points but on top with seven more goals in the GD column).

Leaving Paris last summer at the end of his contract, Xavi Simons has scored 15 goals in the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven this season while adding 7 assists. Even then, PSG could repatriate him back to France for the mere sum of €12m as that's the price of a buyout clause included in his contract with PSV. Both parties would need to accept the move, though.

Speaking to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf Simons said on Saturday that he "has to finish the season well and then we will see," about a potential move to PSG or another club. "For now, my focus is entirely on the last five league matches and the cup final," said the youngster before adding that he "does not know" what can happen at the end of the season.

Simons revealed that he is "very grateful" to play at PSV. "I still have a five-year contract here and this summer I will talk to the sporting director, the coach, and everyone else."

It looks like Champions League or bust for Xavi Simons

However, Simons has recently dropped a new condition for him to stay at PSV: to participate in the Champions League.  "I am fighting until the end for the first place and not for the second, but if we do not reach first place, it is very important for the club and for everyone that we finish second," he said. "For us players, to play the Champions League is very important," Simons continued, adding that "it is a priority for me" reasoning that "it is also very important for my development."

It is clear that PSG will be playing in the Champions League next year and for seasons to come with no end in sight, but that's not the case for PSV with the Dutch club facing a hard final five games of the year in order to get into second place and past Ajax.

Of course, if both teams qualify then Simons might opt to remain in his native Netherlands. If that's not the case, though, it would make for an interesting decision to make by the youngster, considering he might sign with PSG thinking about playing UCL games... only to find his path blocked by the presence of multiple superstars above him in the pecking order.