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February 28, 2012
Posted: 2122 GMT
PSG's new regime: (L-R) Sporting director Leonardo, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and coach Carlo Ancelotti. (Getty Images)
PSG's new regime: (L-R) Sporting director Leonardo, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and coach Carlo Ancelotti. (Getty Images)

"Revons Plus Grand." Dream Bigger. It's Paris Saint-Germain’s new motto and you can see it splashed all over the Parc des Princes, the team’s home stadium.

There is no doubt everything has become bigger and better since the new owners, Qatar Sports Investments, bought a 70% stake in the club last May, as I found out on a recent trip to Paris.

I had the opportunity of spending some quality time with PSG’s new chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, to get some insight into his project and vision for France’s great under-achievers. I also spoke with manager Carlo Ancelotti and star player Javier Pastore.

It would be easy to compare Al-Khelaifi with some of the other owners of European football teams, like Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich at Chelsea or Manchester City's oil-rich Sheikh Mansour. However, he’s different.

Al-Khelaifi has a sports background and has worked in the world of sports media for a while as well. He was a professional tennis player and is currently the president of the Qatari Tennis Federation. He has also been the director of television station Al Jazeera Sports since 2006. In other words, this man knows what he is doing.

I definitely got that impression when I spoke with him about his plans for the future. The man who is calling the shots has no problems in stating he wants PSG to be at the same level as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Milan. And he’s gone out and laid down the groundwork with this lofty goal in mind, hiring the likes of 1994 World Cup winner Leonardo as sporting director and Carlo Ancelotti, who won the Champions League as a player and a coach, to be manager.

I guess what you want me to tell you is if this dream can come true.

PSG actually have many things going for them right now. The club is located in a high-profile capital with no competition. Whereas in cities like Madrid, Milan and London there are two or more clubs vying for attention, in Paris there is only one. They have a market of 12 million people right there ready for the taking.

Due to a combination of bad management and bad luck, the team hasn’t won the French title since 1994, but I honestly think that drought will come to an end very soon indeed.

Another thing in PSG's favor is the fact that there is no other dominant force in French football at the moment. Marseille and Lille, champions of the past two seasons respectively, aren’t particularly strong, Lyon are a far cry from the team that won seven straight titles, while the likes of Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne are also underachieving. So it would be fair to say the stars have lined up at the right time for PSG to enjoy a run of domestic success.

Europe will be another challenge of course. Hiring Ancelotti is a good move. His experience will come in handy. "Carletto" seemed to me to be extremely motivated to spearhead this project. He told me the team could compete with Europe’s best sides next season since he expected the owners to bring in some more high-profile players in the postseason.

Which brings me to Pastore, the most expensive football player ever bought by a French team. The Argentine playmaker is happy to be the star of the show, but confessed he would love to have a better supporting cast and hinted he'd be delighted to see his compatriot Gonzalo Higuain move to the club from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Whether "Pipita" moves or not, I believe some big names will be arriving in Paris. Kaka and Alexandre Pato are good bets considering their Milan links with Ancelotti and sporting director Leonardo. Although Al-Khelaifi didn’t reveal which deals he is working on, one thing is for sure, he is dreaming big.

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FOR DIRTY OIL MONEY   February 29th, 2012 12:13 pm ET

Is it right for rich arab owners to treat teams, players and managers alike? Kambouré succeeded in getting PSG to 1st place in the Championship before the Christmas period, and now for his efforts, he has been fired. I can simply understand if he was a boss who wasn't doing his job properly, but to get a team to 1st place, he must have done something right in the first place.

Fred Goulet   February 29th, 2012 12:47 pm ET

Author wrote "Another thing in PSG's favor is the fact that there is no other dominant force in French football at the moment"
Did you know that PSG is not the actual leader of the French League, but second after Montpellier ? Please, update your datas before writing your articles M. Pinto...

Alejandro Alvarez   February 29th, 2012 2:10 pm ET

"Another thing in PSG’s favor is the fact that there is no other dominant force in French football at the moment. Marseille and Lille, champions of the past two seasons respectively, aren’t particularly strong..."

does this guy not realize that lille have the most sought out midfielder in eden hazard and marseille has one of the most proficient attacking forces, that clubs want to buy? and not to mention marsielle just beat inter milan 1 to 0 in the champions league and PSG didnt even get outtah the europa group stages. Yes they will more than likely win league, but not easily.

madridfantastic   February 29th, 2012 5:49 pm ET

PSG still got a long way to go ....... not even match the class of Tottenham

Bedir cayı 43   March 1st, 2012 11:24 pm ET

CNN ,Thanks. .this is e test. thanks.merci.

Roger Mills   March 7th, 2012 11:14 pm ET

Will we see the team buying lots of star footballers,which will not work as a team? This is what Malaga did,bought stars,and they still dont win so many matches,as it is not a team.

Zaumu   March 9th, 2012 12:32 pm ET

PSG can match the likes of Barça, Real Madrid, they just need reinforce their Team by buying some key players like Eto'o, Brazillian Striker (Santos) Neymar etc. Each Team just depends on its components, they can also make it to the top. The problem with French Football has always been the absence of BIG spenders. Now that PSG has got one they can also compete at the highest level.

Dr. Cajetan Coelho   March 12th, 2012 10:57 am ET

Wishing PSG footballers, fans, Carlo Ancellotti and Nasser Al-Khelaifi success in their grand mission in Paris, France and beyond.

Stanislav Manev   April 13th, 2012 3:15 am ET

All we the fans of PSG hope and dream for best results in next 7 matches in championship. Champions title of France wined by PSG is my dream from many years! :)

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