Nuno Mendes has completed his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, according to Fabrizio Romano. The youngster moves to the French capital on loan, with the initial temporary deal including a fee of €7 million, but Les Parisiens will have a €40 million option to buy baked into the contract as well.
Nuno Mendes oins Paris Saint-Germain
Impressive for Sporting Lisbon
The 19-year-old wonderkid became the Leões’ first-choice left-back last season despite his age and inexperience, and this gamble has paid off enormously.
Mendes’ performances last campaign were hugely impressive. He played some exemplary football and was a vital part of Sporting’s title-winning team in the 2020/21 season, the first time they finished top in the Primeira Liga for 19 years.
With his attacking ability and impact having a huge influence on his boyhood club’s results, Mendes was also defensively solid and became one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the world in just one year.
While Sporting will likely never retain his services again, he has made them a hefty profit, adding to the list of academy graduates and others on whom they spent relatively little money who have left the club for large transfer fees.
Alongside Mendes, Matheus Pereira also rose through the ranks in Lisbon. He spent the 2019/20 season on loan with West Bromwich Albion and, as this was a success, the Baggies brought him in on a permanent deal following their promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds United star Raphinha is another example of smart business from the Portuguese side. They made over three times their money on the Brazilian-born attacker in the space of just one year, selling him to Stade Rennais for £18.9 million before he moved to the north of England when Leeds came calling after another 12 months.
The most famous example of all, however, is Bruno Fernandes. The 26-year-old moved to Sporting from Sampdoria for under £9 million in the summer of 2017, but by January 2020 they had sold him in a deal that to date has earned them £56.7 million.
Nuno Mendes will hope to emulate the United star’s success, with Fernandes having been one of the most impressive players in world football since his move to Old Trafford.
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