Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has made its first signing of the summer, acquiring Slovakian captain Milan Skriniar on a free transfer. The 28-year-old defender joins the French champions after they declined to pay Inter Milan €70 million ($76 million) last year. Skriniar’s arrival comes just a day after PSG unveiled former Spain and Barcelona boss Luis Enrique as their new coach.
PSG’s Qatari owners have been eager to claim the prestigious UEFA Champions League trophy since acquiring the club in 2011. Luis Enrique, the latest manager tasked with achieving this goal, will rely on Skriniar’s defensive prowess to strengthen the team. In the previous season, PSG conceded 40 goals on their way to securing their 11th Ligue 1 crown, marking the worst defensive record for a French champion since 2003 when Lyon conceded 41 goals.
Having signed a five-year contract, Skriniar expressed his delight at joining the illustrious club, stating, “I am delighted to become a part of this wonderful club.” His successful six-year tenure at Inter Milan, during which he won the 2021 Serie A title, two Italian Cups, and two Italian Super Cups, has earned him recognition as a top target for Luis Enrique’s predecessor, Christophe Galtier.
However, Skriniar’s relationship with Inter Milan had deteriorated over the past year. He underwent spinal surgery in France after not featuring for the club since March. In the Champions League final against Manchester City, which Inter lost 1-0, Skriniar remained on the bench. Tensions escalated between Skriniar and the club, leading to him being stripped of the captaincy in February after refusing to renew his contract. Reflecting on the challenges he faced, Skriniar stated, “The past few months have not been easy for me. However, today everything is much better, and I feel in perfect shape.”
Skriniar’s addition to the squad is not expected to be PSG’s only defensive reinforcement. The club has also set its sights on signing Lucas Hernandez, the French 2018 World Cup-winning defender from Bayern Munich.
In another significant move, PSG has secured the services of Spanish forward Marco Asensio. Asensio joins the Parisian club on a three-year deal that extends until June 2026. Starting his career at RCD Mallorca, Asensio made his first-team debut during the 2013/14 season. Following his move to Real Madrid in 2015, he was loaned out to RCD Espanyol, where he made 37 appearances and scored four goals, including a brace and an assist on his debut.
During his seven seasons with Real Madrid, Asensio achieved tremendous success, winning three La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, three Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, and one Copa del Rey. He received his first call-up to the Spanish national team in May 2016 and was part of Julen Lopetegui’s 2018 World Cup squad. Asensio also featured in his second World Cup, scoring a goal.
With the acquisitions of Milan Skriniar and Marco Asensio, PSG aims to reinforce their squad and compete at the highest level in domestic and international competitions.
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