Most people go to Paris and have some of the most memorable positive experiences of their lives. Of course, nearly every visitor to the city of light goes there for reasons other than to play professional football, and thus wouldn’t have the tumultuous stay that Paris Saint-Germain right back Serge Aurier has had.
Two days ago we learned that Aurier was a target of Manchester United. It turns out that Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan are keen on the 24-year-old as well. Reportedly, the young defender is thinking “Forget Paris” this summer transfer window (apologies to the name of the 1990s Billy Crystal RomCom).
“Serge Aurier has informed Paris Saint-Germain of his desire to move this summer,” writes ESPN FC, who also chronicle how Aurier has been:
“plagued by controversy at Parc des Princes since early 2016 and it finally came to a head in March when the Ivory Coast right-back took nearly 10 minutes to be ready to replace Thomas Meunier at Lorient.”
For more on that “plagued by controversy” we turn to NBC Sports. The “off-the-pitch” issues are recapped by Pro Soccer Talk, who write that Aurier was found “guilty of assaulting a police officer in Paris and was also suspended by PSG for allegedly mocking teammate Angel di Maria and then manager Laurent Blanc in a periscope session.”
Yes, that’s a fair amount of baggage to consider. However, it’s really in the best interests of PSG to move Aurier as he’s become more expendable this summer. Already behind Meunier on the depth chart, Dani Alves, another right back, recently arrived at the French capital.
Additionally, PSG is making no secret of their desire to acquire Neymar from Barcelona and Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal. With that kind of spending potentially on the docket, they would be best served by getting some money coming in too.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
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