Thiago Maia has iterated his desire to play for Paris Saint-Germain, putting paid to Manchester United and Chelsea’s overture for the Brazilian starlet.
Santos midfielder Thiago Maia has said that if given a chance to play in Europe, he would prefer a move to Paris Saint-Germain. He even went on to state that it has been a dream of his to play for the French champions.
“If I had a chance to go to Europe, I would move to PSG,” he said in an interview with Lance! “Everybody has his own dreams, but I like their style. People want to live dreams of other people and that’s bad.”
“The structure of the club, the country and the city: I love everything related to PSG. That said, I’d also consider moves to Barcelona or Real Madrid because they are big clubs. I have a dream. I want to play for a big club and I hope that I will do that one day.”
Maia’s admission of his dream to play for PSG will thwart the efforts of Manchester United and Chelsea who, among other clubs, were reported to be interested in securing the services of the highly rated 19-year-old midfielder.
Who is Thiago Maia?
Thiago Maia is a 19-year-old Brazilian midfielder who plays for Santos in the Brazilian Serie A, and is primarily deployed in defensive midfield. The youngster has a solid frame, and despite still being in his teens, he has shown a lot of promise that can be worked upon.
Being solidly built, Maia possesses tremendous abilities as the anchor in front of the back four, while also showing an inkling towards moving forward to support the attack. With a good reading of the game, crisp passing and a clever change of pace, he has traits that help him be a solid, yet exciting midfielder.
A few games have left a lot to be desired but that is understandable for a player who is only 19. Having said that, he has shown with the skills he possesse,s that the foundation is solid to create a fulfilling career in Europe, with the right coaches working with him.
Choosing PSG: A Player Manchester United and Chelsea could have done with?
Maia has been a regular for Santos for well over a year now, which is a great achievement in itself. But he rose to prominence during last year’s Olympic games where he won gold with Brazil and became the first ever athlete from the Amazonian region of Roraima to represent his country and subsequently win a medal too.
And his exploits over the last 18 months have earned him many admirers in Europe, chief among which were Manchester United and Chelsea. However, with Maia admitting that he wishes to represent PSG more than any other European side, the two English giants could already be out of the running to sign him.
So, is Maia a player the two clubs could have done with? The answer is likely a very strong yes. For Manchester United, Michael Carrick has been an ever present in front of the back four for the better part of the last decade, but he is slowly approaching the twilight of what has been a glorious career.
With not long to go before Carrick calls it a day, Jose Mourinho would be scouring the market for a long-term replacement for the Englishman, and Maia fits the bill perfectly, as his solidity would allow the likes of Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera more freedom to express themselves and support the attack.
Chelsea, though, already have N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic manning the central midfield superbly. However, Antonio Conte is looking for a backup for the duo and Maia showed exactly the kind of skills that could have seen him establish himself in the centre of the park for the Blues in the long-term.
Would A Move To PSG Suit Him Better?
A potential transfer to PSG in the future could actually be the best career move for Maia, because positions could soon be opening up in the midfield at Parc des Princes.
Marco Verratti is a key figure for Unai Emery, with his presence in the PSG midfield elevating the level of performances by Les Parisiens. However, Grzegorz Krychowiak has blown hot and cold, while Blaise Matuidi has been poor this season.
Adrian Rabiot has been another ever present in the centre of the park for PSG, and he is a player the club has invested a lot of time in. And if he moves to the French capital, Maia can forge a solid partnership alongside Rabiot and lay a foundation around which the PSG manager can build his squad.
The interest is not one sided, with PSG also heavily linked with a move for Maia. It now remains to be seen whether the Parisian club bids for him, and if Maia is able to fulfill his dream of playing for the Ligue 1 champions.
