Nicolas Sarkozy asked to bring PSG back to Parc des Princes negotiations

The breakdown in communications between the Paris town hall and Paris Saint-Germain over the sale of the Parc des Princes to the club has led the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to contact an ex-president of France in an attempt to bring the club back to the negotiating table. 

For over a year, the relationship between the biggest club in Paris and its city council has deteriorated to the extent that neither side has been in communication with the other, during what could be a multi-million euro deal. 

The club aspire to own their historic stadium, which they currently lease from the town hall. However, the city council have so far refused all offers from the club, as they would prefer not to sell the Parc des Princes, and say that the club’s estimates are far below what they would be willing to accept. 

This impasse in negotiations has led to a complete breakdown in communications, with neither side in direct contact with the other for some time, which has led to the two parties briefing through the media. An indirect communication that has only seen tensions inflame, as threats of litigation have emerged. 

An Ex-President to help negotiations over the Parc des Princes 

L’Équipe reports that the town hall has attempted on more than one occasion to bring PSG back to the negotiating table, but these offers at appeasement have only been rebuffed or ignored.

According to the report, this has led Hidalgo to contact Nicolas Sarkozy, the ex-President of France, in an attempt to reconvene the opposing parties. Sarkozy is a notable fan of Les Parisiens and it was hoped that he would be able to provide a message of reconciliation that has so far fallen flat. 

The message has either not been received or has gone down poorly in the annals of the club. The president of PSG, Nasser al-Khelaïfi, has informed the city council publicly that they have three months to decide on whether they will sell the Parc des Princes or the team will look to move away from their stadium. 

An ultimatum that has been met with some confusion considering the efforts that the city is thought to have gone to in their aim to restart communications. 

How this deal will play out from this point on is far from certain, but the club has begun the process of examining their options away from the Parc des Princes, and outside of Paris. Currently, the site of a new stadium in the town of Montigny-le-Bretonneux is being investigated by PSG for its viability.

GFFN | Nick Hartland