PSG talent Senny Mayulu closer to exit after contract talks stall

Senny Mayulu, perhaps now the crown jewel in PSG’s youth project, the man whose late goal in the 5-0 thrashing of Inter in last season’s Champions League final represented a moment of pure ecstasy for supporters of the Parisian club, now looks increasingly likely to leave PSG this summer, following a breakdown in contract talks between player and club.

Senny Mayulu nears PSG exit over failed contract negotiations

This season has been a strange one for Mayulu. He did feature quite extensively over the first half of the season, perhaps more than expected, given the injuries to other players in his position. His versatility has been underlined by the fact that he has replaced both Fabian Ruiz in central midfield, and the injured members of PSG’s frontlines.

All in all, he has made a respectable 26 appearances across Ligue 1 and Champions League, notching in with four goals and four assists across both, including a vital opener in their trip to Barcelona in the Champions League group stage. Mayulu has actually played more than half of available minutes in the league, which is more than can be said for the some of the more established names in PSG’s squad.

So what exactly is the problem then? Well, it is fair to say that Mayulu probably feels as though he’s never going to be first choice at PSG – there are at least four players ahead of him in the pecking order of PSG’s frontline, and in midfield, despite some impressive performances, he evidently doesn’t feature in PSG’s strongest line-up. Indeed, it’s telling that although Mayulu has played a lot in the league, he’s played only 39% of Champions League minutes: with Enrique clearly favouring experience in Europe’s premier competition.

Given that possible reinforcements could be incoming over the summer, and that it is unlikely that PSG will suffer an injury crisis once again next season, Mayulu perhaps fears that his opportunities in the first team will be further limited, and therefore wants to push for an exit to a club that will give him more gametime.

It is a shame all around, Mayulu is an academy breakthrough who Luis Enrique clearly trusts: he tends to bring him off the bench even in the biggest of games, like against Chelsea in midweek. It is also clear, however, that Mayulu is not yet performing at the level of his direct competitors in those positions: while solid, his performances this season have not particularly grabbed any headlines, even taking context like his age into account.

Overall, it will be a shame for PSG fans if Mayulu’s now likely exit does indeed materialise, but if the Parisians are able to sell him for 50 million euros, which in today’s market seems quite likely, then overall on paper it seems like a fair piece of business. As for Mayulu, his situation is a difficult one, and his desire to leave, although in some ways surprising given his academy roots, is actually quite natural.