Jorge Mendes has stopped Aston Villa from signing the PSG star who wanted to join him
Super agent Jorge Mendes played a role in stopping Aston Villa from signing PSG who wanted to join him, according to reports from France.
Some of Villa’s recruitment under Unai Emery has been designed to identify top quality young talent, and Ibrahim Mbaye is another player who seemed destined to fit that profile before events behind the scenes took him in a different direction.
Mbaye’s fame rose to prominence last year even though he was only 18 years old.
Regarded as one of the brightest attacking prospects to come out of PSG’s academy in recent seasons, the winger has already shown he is at his best.
Luis Enrique slowly integrated him into PSG’s senior squad, trusting him in Ligue 1 and Europe as he continued his development with some of the best players in the world.
Youth sports justified faith.
Mbaye made more than 30 appearances for the first team in all competitions last term, impressing with his fearlessness, pace and willingness to tackle experienced defenders.
Comfortable on either wing, he has repeatedly shown the confidence and technical quality that has made him one of the most sought-after young players in European football.
After committing his future to Senegal, Mbaye immediately caught the attention of coach Pape Thiaw, who famously described the boy as “something that happened”.
Such praise reflects not only his obvious talent but also the excitement surrounding his potential.
Mbaye is already considered one of the attacking stars in Senegal as many expect him to end up playing in the national team in the coming years.
However, his future at PSG is becoming increasingly uncertain.
|
Football FanCast verdict |
|
|---|---|
|
Honesty |
This information comes from Romain Molina, one of the most famous investigative football journalists in France, known for his extensive network of contacts and detailed reporting on French football. |
|
Finance |
Recent reports have suggested that Mbaye is worth around £43 million to PSG, reflecting the length of his contract and potential. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, the French champions remain in a strong negotiating position and are unlikely to allow any sale below their valuation. |
|
Understanding |
Mbaye is a striker who likes to attack defenders directly, and who knows how to play forward. He has once again shown the personality needed to fight for a place in a strong squad in Europe. |
|
Impact |
Mbaye would be a great addition to Emery’s project due to his speed, technical quality and huge ceiling. Although Villa ended up securing Garnacho’s replacement, the PSG youngster has the qualities to improve in the Premier League and could remain a player to keep an eye on. |
According to reports from France, tensions have grown between the player and the club in recent months as there have been concerns about his inner circle, his development and his relationship with senior officials at the Parc des Princes.
That has alerted several Premier League clubs, all of whom see the opportunity that could arise if PSG are finally willing to agree to sell.
One of these clubs was Aston Villa.
Ibrahim Mbaye wanted to leave Aston Villa before the Alejandro Garnacho deal
Investigative journalist Romain Molina reports that Mbaye expressed his desire to join Villa before signing a loan deal for Alejandro Garnacho.
However, this move did not materialize after the teenager changed representation and joined Mendes’ agency.
Molina says that Mendes instead helped Aston Villa buy Garnacho, closing the door on where Mbaye wants to go despite the player’s desire to move to Villa Park.
It’s an interesting twist on one of the summer’s most intriguing transfer stories.
Villa have been targeting young players who can develop into top players, making Mbaye a clear fit in Emery’s long-term vision.
Instead, the club bolstered their attack by completing the deal for Garnacho, another top-class winger with valuable Premier League experience, but a mixed last season.
Whether Villa returns to Mbaye in the future remains to be seen.
If the relationship between the player and PSG continues to deteriorate, interest from across Europe is likely to increase. However, at the moment the circumstances of not playing on the field seem to have changed Mbaye’s direction.
