Paris Saint-Germain unveiled the first new signings of the Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) era on Monday when they presented French internationals Jeremy Menez and Blaise Matuidi to the media.
Menez, 24, arrives from Roma and will replace Ludovic Giuly on the right-hand side of the Paris attack after the veteran's contract was not renewed at the end of last season.
Defensive midfielder Matuidi, also 24, has been signed to take the place of former captain Claude Makelele, who has retired from football.
The pair join goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez and striker Kevin Gameiro as PSG's summer recruits, but are the first players to arrive since QSI completed their takeover of the club and appointed Leonardo as sporting director.
The bids to sign both players were reportedly instigated by PSG's former management team headed by ex-president Robin Leproux, who was forced to step down from his position by Leonardo's arrival.
Menez, who previously played for Sochaux and Monaco, is bidding to secure a place in Laurent Blanc's France squad for Euro 2012 after falling out of favour under interim Roma coach Vincenzo Montella in the second half of last season.
Like Gameiro, Menez appears to have been influenced by Blanc's remarks that he would prefer to see France players playing regularly in Ligue 1 than sitting on the bench at foreign clubs.
PSG had also been expected to announce the signature of Valenciennes centre-back Milan Bisevac, but the club said the 27-year-old Serbian would undergo a medical later on Monday before signing his contract.
French sports daily L'Equipe has speculated that Menez will cost PSG eight million euros ($11.5m), with Matuidi reportedly costing an initial 7.5 million that could rise to 10 million euros with bonuses.
Source: AFP
