Presnel Kimpembe has broken his silence as he nears a return to Paris Saint-Germain after a lengthy recovery from injury. Meanwhile, PSG is also eyeing Aymeric Laporte, with Al-Nassr setting a €30 million price tag amid interest from Real Madrid. Kimpembe’s comeback faces stiff competition in PSG’s defense, while Laporte’s potential move to Europe is complicated by his high salary and Al-Nassr’s hefty asking price.
Kimpembe Breaks Silence Ahead of PSG Return
Presnel Kimpembe (29) hasn’t played since February 2023, but he’s finally seeing a path to recovery.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender suffered an Achilles tendon injury in February last year, requiring surgery. However, the procedure didn’t produce the expected outcome. Despite his efforts to return to play, Kimpembe faced setbacks, leading to another surgery at the end of the year.
“Never in my life did I think that I would go almost two years without playing,” began Kimpembe in an interview with Canal Plus. “All I wanted was to be with the team because I’ve had a good year-and-a-half on the side […] I managed to stay close to the team by making the away trips in the Champions League, and by going to all of the matches. I brought them my support; they gave me theirs.”
Since the injury, Kimpembe has not only been absent from the pitch but has also avoided speaking to the media. He now aims to reclaim his place in PSG’s defense, a challenging feat with Marquinhos and Willian Pacho as the established starters. Luis Enrique also has Milan Skriniar and Lucas Beraldo available to him.
“In all the teams that I’ve played, there has been competition. I had it when I arrived, and I’ll have it again now,” Kimpembe stated. He also mentioned staying in contact with Didier Deschamps, with regaining his place in the France squad being one of his key goals.
Kimpembe, who is currently training with PSG’s first team, is close to making his return, though no specific date has been set.
Al-Nassr Tags Price for PSG Target as Madrid Eyes Him
This past summer, Paris Saint-Germain was connected with several center-backs to strengthen their defense, including experienced Aymeric Laporte.
José Álvarez Haya of El Chiringuito reported over the summer that PSG, Atlético Madrid, and Real Madrid were all competing for the Spanish defender.
PSG’s interest seemed especially intense given manager Luis Enrique’s past connection with Laporte from their time with Spain’s national team. However, Real Madrid appears to be in the driver’s seat for the UEFA Euro 2024 winner.
A report from Spain indicates that Real Madrid is particularly eager to sign Laporte after Éder Militão’s injury. Militão, who tore his ACL in Real Madrid’s 4-0 victory over Osasuna, is expected to be out for approximately nine months, according to ESPN sources.
Although there is interest in Laporte, the deal is complicated by his large salary and the unlikelihood of Saudi Arabia approving a six-month loan.
Laporte’s Europe Return: What’s the Latest?
MARCA’s José Félix Díaz reports that Al-Nassr is demanding €30 million from Real Madrid for the 30-year-old, a sum that contradicts the club’s usual policy of avoiding high fees for veteran players.
Before joining Al-Nassr, Laporte played for Athletic Club from 2012 to 2018, then moved to Manchester City, where he stayed from 2018 to 2023. After his time in the Premier League, he made the move to Saudi Arabia.
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