Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatar Winter Tour from January 16-20

Superstars Lionel Messi (right) and Neymar will be part of the PSG’s Qatar Winter Tour.

For the first time since 2019, Paris Saint-Germain will return to Doha for their traditional Qatar Winter Tour from January 16 to 20 , 2022. The Paris Saint-Germain squad will include all first team players, who will travel from France following the home match against Brest in Ligue 1. Superstars Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe will be part of the PSG team. Their tour will finish with a friendly match in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh before the delegation returns to France. Paris Saint-Germain will play against a squad composed of players from the two best Saudi clubs Al Hilal and Al Nassr FC. In Doha, the team will enjoy the outstanding training facilities in the Aspire Zone and benefit from the country’s ideal weather conditions at this time of the year. In addition to training, the Qatar Winter Tour is an opportunity for the club to discover the many new attractions and experiences created since their last visit and to showcase Qatar as a tourist destination. This trip will also be an opportunity for the team to meet local supporters and participate in activations with its partners, both Qatari and global partners with presence in the country, to create memorable experiences. Events shall include using some of the brand new 2022 World Cup facilities. Players will also visit the Paris Saint-Germain Academy in Doha, which operates year-round on the pitches of the Qatar Foundation. Qatar has welcomed several tours for Paris Saint-Germain’s teams, including the 2014 and 2015 Qatar Handball Tour, the 2015 Qatar Ladies Tour and the 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Qatar Tour. Within the framework of its partnership, Qatar Tourism offers millions of football fans the opportunity to experience all that Qatar had to offer, including its culture and hospitality. Since QSI’s purchase of the club in 2011, PSG has transformed to become one of the top football clubs and global sports brands in the world. The club has since then won 25 trophies in only nine years, 43 in its history, becoming the most successful football club in France. (psg.fr)Mbappe expected to be in PSG squad for Lyon clash Paris: Kylian Mbappe is set to be included in Paris St Germain’s squad for today’s Ligue 1 game at home to Olympique Lyonnais after picking up an ankle injury in the Champions League this week although he will face a last-minute test. Coach Mauricio Pochettino said the France striker had been recovering well from the injury sustained in the 1-1 draw at Club Brugge on Wednesday. “He has trained with the group with some caution. We’re happy with the evolution and tomorrow we will see how he responds,” Pochettino said yesterday. Lionel Messi is expected to start with Neymar for his first game at the Parc des Princes after playing 30 minutes in a 2-0 win at Stade de Reims last month and the full game at Brugge. PSG lead the Ligue 1 standings with a maximum 15 points, seven ahead of Lyon who have won their last two games after a stuttering start to the season and beat Rangers 2-0 in the Europa League on Thursday. The capital side will again be without ex-Real Madrid centre back Sergio Ramos, still recovering from a left thigh injury, and midfielder Marco Verratti who has not regained full fitness after picking up a knee injury on international duty with Italy.PSG rubbish report of Messi’s ‘110mn’ salaryMeanwhile, PSG’s sporting director Leonardo angrily dismissed as “very far from reality” a story in L’Equipe yesterday claiming the club were paying Lionel Messi a “giant” salary of 110mn euros” over the next three seasons. Leonardo was not pulling any punches as he sought to knock back details of a contract all parties would prefer to keep out of the public domain. “We didn’t like it, it’s very far from the reality in terms of the length and the figures,” said Leonardo. “There are confidentiality clauses, but I can tell you it’s not the truth.” L’Equipe devoted its front page to the Argentine superstar’s “giant salary” — a minimum of 110mn euros spread over three years. “The length of the contract is two years and not three,” stated Leonardo.  He accused L’Equipe of “a lack of respect” given the timing of the story the day before Messi stars in front of PSG’s fans at home. “I don’t understand it, but that’s your problem,” he told journalists. “But the facts, we can’t let that go.”