Luís Campos, the sharp-minded sporting director for Paris Saint-Germain, recently sat down for a candid chat on the French program ‘RMC Sport’. He didn’t hold back, diving deep into the hot topic of the Ballon d’Or and the much-discussed exit of goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma. Campos shared his unfiltered views on how things are run behind the scenes at the club.
When it comes to the best player in the world for 2025, Campos has no doubt. “Dembélé won everything,” he stated firmly. “He was named the best player in Ligue 1 and also the best in the Champions League. If he doesn’t take home the Ballon d’Or, it simply means the voters aren’t doing their job well. If his name were Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there wouldn’t even be a debate.” Campos also proudly noted PSG’s strong presence on the nominees list, adding, “PSG has nine players nominated, including Nuno Mendes, João Neves, and Vitinha, and we are very happy about that.”
Donnarumma’s departure, after some friction with the club, was a big story over the summer. Campos painted a simple picture of the situation. “He was asking for a salary from the ‘old’ PSG, not the ‘current’ PSG,” Campos explained. “He was one of the first players we talked to about extending his contract, but things have changed here. The club itself is the real star now.” He expressed satisfaction with PSG’s work in the transfer market, saying, “I always listen to what the coaches want; that’s a key to our success. We worked together and got everything we aimed for. I have absolutely zero regrets.”
Campos also highlighted a key move he made, calling the decision to hire Luis Enrique in 2023 “the best decision” of his time at PSG. He recalled a revealing conversation with the coach. “I told him I was putting together a team without the pressure to win the Champions League right away,” Campos remembered. “And he shot back, ‘But I’m here to win.'” Campos then revealed a bold moment when the coach made a tough call about star player Neymar. “He told Neymar directly that it would be better for him to leave,” Campos stated plainly.
