With Paris Saint-Germain having seen both Lionel Messi and Neymar leave, the real reason why they were happy to see the two superstars' depart has now reportedly been revealed.
The players' times at the French club tailed off badly, with both becoming unpopular figures to a sizeable number of supporters at the Parc des Princes, who made a few attempts of their own to force them out of the team with a number of protests held.
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According to reports, at boardroom level, some PSG executives shared similar sentiments on Neymar, whom as they were widely believed to be open to letting him leave for a couple years before his exit.
It is understood that the 31-year-old's constant controversies, fitness issues, and high earnings resulted in him being viewed as surplus to requirements.
Soon after current manager Luis Enrique was appointed as head coach in July, it became clear that Neymar had no future in Paris, while the club is also believed to have eventually decided to not try to convince Messi to stay when his contract expired in July.
However, it is now being claimed that the main reason for the duo's departure was that PSG have decided to do a rebrand, and divert from the superstars approach they had adopted since Qatar Sports Investment took over in 2011.
Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport and geopolitical economy at Skema Business School, has now claimed that the Parisians grew tired of signing "a bunch of old blokes".
"From the people I know close to PSG, their targets have really been stretched," Chadwick told iNews UK.
"There's a much greater emphasis on generating revenues, and also a much greater emphasis on controlling costs.
"With Messi, Neymar, Mbappe – there was something so 2003 about it all.
"What I mean by 2003 is, that's the year David Beckham signed for Real Madrid, the peak of the 'Galacticos' era. But we don't want to live in 2003 anymore.
"Somewhat belatedly, PSG has realised this. They've got a new director of communications, who has come from Meta [owner of Facebook and Instagram].
"PSG realises it needs to be more relevant to a 2023 audience. Signing a bunch of old blokes from Spain is not very Gen Z. Fandom changes, marketing changes, business changes."
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