PSG sporting director Leonardo has confirmed that superstars Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva, whose contracts expire at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, will not be Parisians next season.
PSG sporting director Leonardo rocked the French footballing world over the weekend, his interview in Le Journal de Dimanche on Sunday revealing that the two key figures in the Parisian dressing room will no longer be at the club come the 2020-21 campaign.
Last hurrah
"It was a very difficult decision to make. These are players who have marked the history of the club. You always wonder whether you should continue the adventure or whether it's better to avoid going one year too long," said the Brazilian. "The stories have been so beautiful. But, yes, we're coming to the end."
While it is not yet known where Cavani (33) and Thiago Silva (35) will see out their careers, there is a strong chance they will be able to stick around to help PSG finish the Champions League campaign. PSG are through to the quarter-finals of the competition and a directive from UEFA could see their contracts exceptionally extended through to the end of August so they can take part in a rumoured Final 8 tournament in Lisbon before the beginning of next season.
Changing of the guard
But that's where the adventure will end, Leonardo explaining that the club has opted to start a new cycle, notably by dishing out €50m to convert Mauro Icardi's loan from Inter into a permanent move.
"It was necessary to make a logical decision, even on an economic level or with regard to the coming generation," Leonardo said. "Maybe we're wrong, I don't know. There's never a perfect moment."
Legends
Cavani, PSG's all-time leading goal scorer with 200 goals for the club in all competitions, arrived at PSG from Napoli in 2013 and, after several seasons spent on the wing while Zlatan Ibrahimovic played through the middle, became the main man in attack, finishing Ligue 1 Conforama top scorer on two occasions.
Thiago Silva also signed from Italy - O Mostro earned the reputation as the best defender while at AC Milan - but landed in the French capital a year earlier than Cavani, instantly shoring up the side with his decisive presence in the heart of defence. He went on to make over 200 Ligue 1 Conforama appearances for PSG as he helped the club win no fewer than seven league titles, four Coupes de France, five Coupe de la Ligue and five Trophées des Champions.
