Nuno Mendes Explains Decision to Leave Sporting to Sign With PSG | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain has their left-back for now and into the future with Nuno Mendes. One of the few transfers former sporting director Leonardo got right was landing the Portuguese defense from Sporting CP in the 2021 summer transfer window on an initial loan deal that became permanent after triggering the €40 million option.

In an interview with One Football (h/t Paris Fans), Mendes spoke about why he opted to join the PSG project as his next career stepping stone.

“I always told my agent that I would like to play for PSG,” Mendes told the media outlet. “It was a big change when I got here. Players think very quickly. They play with one or two touches; it’s simple football [and] the players are on top.”

Joining the French giants allowed the left-back to jump right into the fire as he plays with some of the best players in the world and has shown the ability to play alongside them.

Nonetheless, the Portugal international still feels plenty of room for him to grow as he’s yet to even hit his prime football years.

“I still have a lot to learn,” Mendes continued. “In the Champions League, every detail counts. At PSG, we are a very attacking team. And sometimes when you attack a lot, when you switch to defense, you can get distracted and there can be issues.”

PSG can rest easy knowing their left-back position is secured for the foreseeable future, as Mendes is under contract until 2026 and there’s no way the capital club will let him leave knowing the star he can become.