PARIS (AP) — Following the departure of Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain to real MadridThe French league could become less predictable than in recent years. Here are five things to look out for in the new season, which begins on Friday with defending champions PSG taking on Le Havre.
A new era begins
Mbappe The departure of leaves a huge void at the Parc des Princes and marks the end of an era for PSG, which has dominated French football with 10 league titles in the last 12 seasons. Mbappé has been key to the team’s success in recent years, although even he has not been able to bring European football’s biggest prize – the Champions League title – to Paris.
The pressure is now on head coach Luis Enrique to transform the team and maintain his dominance in France, with players such as Ousmane Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos expected to play key roles in that transition. Paris has also brought in 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder Joao Neves from Benfica for a fee French newspaper L’Equipe estimates at €70 million ($76 million). Still, the question remains whether PSG can find a new leader on the pitch to defend its title.
Lille – the biggest threat to PSG?
Lille could pose the biggest challenge to PSG’s dominance this season, especially since Bruno Genesio took over as head coach. The former Lyon boss inherited a team with solid foundations and has brought in key players, including experienced defenders Thomas Meunier and Aissa Mandi, to bolster the defence.
The arrival of Ethan Mbappé, Kylian’s younger brother, makes things even more exciting. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder, who scored two goals in a pre-season match, could be a wild card in Lille’s title race. Although he is not yet at his brother’s level, Ethan’s development will be closely monitored.
Other candidates
Lyon are still trying to recover from a difficult 2023/24 season that saw them dangerously close to relegation for much of the season. Pierre Sage, who took over as head coach midway through last season, faces the daunting task of stabilising the club. The team has signed strikers Georges Mikoutadzewho impressed at Euro 2024, and defender Moussa Niakhaté, who joined from Nottingham Forest for €31.6 million ($34.5 million), becoming Lyon’s most expensive signing ever. However, doubts remain about Lyon’s overall stability and the team’s ability to compete at the top.
Monaco, which finished second behind PSG last season, is entering the new season significantly weakened by the departure of two key players: Mohammed Camarawho has moved to Al-Sadd in Saudi Arabia, and captain Wissam Ben YedderThese losses have left significant gaps in the midfield and attack.
Fights for television rights
Ligue 1 fans will have to adapt to a new way of watching their favorite teams. British streaming platform DAZN has taken over most of the league’s TV rights, signing a five-year deal worth 400 million euros ($438 million) per season. To watch all 10 weekly Ligue 1 games, fans will need to subscribe to DAZN’s Unlimited package, which costs 29.99 euros ($33) per month, or BeIN Sports for an additional 15 euros ($17) per month. That’s significantly more than French soccer fans have paid in recent years.
The higher costs have sparked backlash online, with the hashtag “Boycott DAZN” trending in France. Given the turbulent history of television rights in France, with Collapse of Mediapro four years ago, there are also doubts about the long-term stability of this new agreement.
Greenwood moves to Marseille
One of the most discussed transfers in France this summer is Michael Greenwood Transfer to Marseille. The 22-year-old, once one of Manchester United’s top talents, left the Premier League for 31.6 million euros (34.5 million dollars).
Greenwood had previously been suspended by United following off-field controversy. He was arrested in 2022 and later charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behavior, and assault. The case was dropped last year. Nevertheless, his move to Marseille met with resistance from some fans, and the city’s mayor even spoke out against it.
“I don’t want my club to be shrouded in shame,” Benoit Payan told the radio station RMC. “That is not acceptable.”
Last season, Greenwood scored 10 goals in 36 appearances while on loan at Getafe in Spain, and now he has the chance to restart his career in Marseille.
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