Metz vs PSG - Emery: Neymar and Mbappe signings are good for French football

Posted Thursday, September 07, 2017 by PA

Paris St Germain's signings of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are good for the whole of French football, according to the club's coach Unai Emery.

PSG smashed the world transfer record when they activated the release clause in Neymar's Barcelona contract - worth B£198million at the time - before bringing in Mbappe from Monaco on transfer deadline day.

The highly-rated 18-year-old signed on an initial season-long loan but it is expected a fee of around B#166m will be paid by PSG to Monaco next summer to secure the player on a permanent basis, which as things stand now would make Mbappe the second-most expensive player on the planet.

The president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, accused PSG of "financial doping" in regard to these deals on Wednesday, saying clubs backed by national gas and oil revenues were inflating costs for all clubs and destroying the industry.

But PSG's Spanish coach Emery believes Ligue 1 in particular will benefit from their summer spending frenzy.

"This summer, big teams wanted to get the services of our players: Marquinhos, (Julian) Draxler, (Angel) Di Maria, (Marco) Verratti. All were approached but decided to stay here," he told the club's official website.

"This was their best option to win, and a strong indicator. In addition, new talents arrived (Yuri Berchiche, Dani Alves, Neymar and Mbappe).

"Strong efforts have been made for offensive players, as they are thought to be crucial to improving results. For France, which loves football, it is good to have such players in this championship.

"We have the opportunity to write a very beautiful story together."

PSG are top of Ligue 1 with four wins from four games as the campaign resumes away to Metz on Friday night following the end of the international break.

Emery has welcomed back all of his internationals, with the only fitness question marks surrounding Di Maria, who was substituted in the 25th minute of Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Venezuela, and Brazilian defender Thiago Silva.

Opponents Metz have failed to win a point from their four games so far.