Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes has publicly announced his desire to play for Real Madrid one day.
The Argentina international collected his third Ligue 1 title with PSG in the 2021-22 season but has only made fleeting appearances due to injury and competition for places in the midfield.
Paredes has only featured on 22 occasions under compatriot Mauricio Pochettino this term, scoring one goal and providing two assists in that period.
Fifteen of those appearances have come in Ligue 1, but he has only started 10 top-flight games for the French champions, while he was named in the first XI four times in the Champions League.
The 27-year-old has now been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing groin surgery, and his future at the Parc des Princes is shrouded in uncertainty.
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Paredes's contract with Les Parisiens is set to expire at the end of next season, and it is currently unclear whether the club plan to renew his deal given their need to strengthen the midfield.
PSG may very well decide to recoup a fee for Paredes this summer rather than risk losing him for free in 2023, and the midfielder already has his heart set on a switch to the Bernabeu but is content to remain at PSG for a little while longer.
During an interview with TyC Sports, Paredes said: "I'd love to play for Real Madrid one day, it's a top club - but I respect Paris Saint-Germain and I'm more than happy here.
The midfielder further reiterated his commitment to the French giants, adding: "Every year they say on the press I'm gonna leave PSG... but I'm happy here. The club wants me, Pochettino too."
Since joining from Zenit St-Petersburg in January 2019, Paredes has gone on to make 113 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring three goals and setting up nine more in that spell.
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As mentioned, Paredes has now won three Ligue 1 titles with PSG, as well as the Coupe de France, two Coupe de la Ligue crowns and the Copa America with Argentina last year.
PSG have supposedly drawn up a five-man shortlist of midfield targets for the summer transfer window, including Manchester United lynchpin and soon-to-be free agent Paul Pogba.
Les Parisiens are already thought to have held talks with the 29-year-old and his representative Vincenzo Raiola, but a recent report claimed that Pogba instead favours a return to Juventus.
Seko Fofana, Khephren Thuram, Nicolo Barella and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are also rumoured to be on the Parisiens' radar, with Georginio Wijnaldum flattering to deceive since arriving as a free agent last year.
Having already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title, PSG's stroll to the finish line continues with Sunday's game against Troyes before subsequent clashes with Montpellier HSC and Metz later this month.
Ben Knapton
