French Ligue 1 giant, Paris Sainte-Germaine has confirmed the departure of Edison Cavani and captain, Thiago Silva, from the club in the summer after their contracts expire in the summer.
PSG sporting director Leonardo, who confirmed the development had reportedly told Silva that he wouldn’t be getting a new deal after the Brazilian turned down a contract extension.
Cavani had wanted a move in January in search of a first team football after Mauro Icardi was favoured ahead of him in the line up of strikers. It means the superstars have come to the end of their journey at the Paris club at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.
Leonardo, who revealed this over the weekend in an interview with Le Journal de Dimanche, said that it was a tough decision to make as the two key figures in the Parisian dressing room will no longer be at the club come to the 2020-21 campaign.
While noting that the duo had an indelible mark in the club, the Brazilian said it is better to avoid going one year too long.
“The stories have been so beautiful. But, yes, we’re coming to an end,” the Brazilian said.
Cavani and Thiago Silva, before leaving Paris, will stick around to help PSG finish the Champions League campaign after the club beat Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 to scale through to the quarter-finals of the competition. According to the new temporary FIFA rule, their contracts may be extended through to the end of August so they can feature in a rumoured Final eight tournament in Lisbon before the beginning of next season.
PSG opted for a new cycle
Speaking further, Leonardo, who admitted the end of the adventure of the lads said the club has opted to start a new cycle by paying €50m to convert Mauro Icardi’s loan from Inter Milan into a permanent move.
He said this was necessary even on an economic level or with regard to the coming generation, adding that the club could be wrong, but stated that there’s never a perfect moment.
Cavani is PSG’s all-time leading goal scorer with 200 goals for the club in all competitions. The Uruguayan joined the French club from Napoli in 2013 and finished as Ligue 1 Conforama’s top scorer on two occasions.
Thiago Silva was also signed from Italy, AC Milan a year earlier than Cavani. He shored up the defense for the Parisien with his decisive presence and went on to make over 200 Ligue 1 Conforama appearances for the club.
The titles he won include seven league titles, four Coupes de France, five Coupe de la Ligue and five Trophées des Champions.
