'It was nearly done' - San Diego FC and Mexico star Hirving Lozano reveals he came close to joining PSG earlier in his career

Mexico international and San Diego FC star Hirving "Chucky" Lozano has revealed that back in 2019, while still playing for PSV Eindhoven, he was very close to signing with Paris Saint-Germain, a move that would have seen him play alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. However, an unexpected shift within PSG’s front office prevented the transfer from being finalized, and he eventually signed with Napoli.

Lozano explained that Mino Raiola, his agent at the time and one of the most influential football representatives in the world, was handling talks with the French club with such discretion that even Lozano himself didn’t know how advanced things were.

“Before joining Napoli [in 2019], I had the opportunity to go to PSG, to Paris," Lozano said to Vamos Show. "I had suffered a collateral ligament injury and decided to take a few days off with my family at Disneyland Paris. I told Mino I’d be staying a week, but after just two days, he called me and said, ‘You need to come back tomorrow. I’ll meet you at the Paris airport. You’re flying with PSG’s Sporting Director.'”

Although Lozano didn’t name the PSG executive he met with, he said that after initial conversations, the club's management changed direction, and the opportunity fell through. The timing coincided with the dismissal of Antero Henrique as PSG's sporting director - a change prompted by Thomas Tuchel’s dissatisfaction with how the squad had been built that year.

“It was a surprise. I told my wife, ‘Let’s go,’ and we returned. We talked, and it was nearly done. When I landed, I saw Matthijs de Ligt was there too - they were planning to sign him as well," he said.

At the time, PSG’s roster included major stars like Neymar, Mbappé, Thiago Silva, Marco Verratti, Ángel Di María, and Edinson Cavani.

Now a player for San Diego FC, Lozano also spoke about his experience in Major League Soccer, praising the league’s competitiveness and growth.

“The league is growing a lot," he said. "The level of competition and the intensity of matches is high. Any team playing at home is tough to beat. The match against St. Louis City SC really impressed me—it was difficult and unexpected. They’re a very good team.”

He added, “I think I’m improving a lot, regaining my best form. I haven’t reached my peak yet, but I’m getting there step by step. I feel good, and that’s thanks to the confidence my teammates, the staff, and the club have in me. I came here to grow, give my best, and help the team.”

Although Lozano missed the Gold Cup due to injury and has not been included in recent national team call-ups, he’s not giving up on his hopes of making it back to El Tri.

“You just have to keep working. There’s still a long road ahead. Personally, I really enjoyed my time with the national team. It helped me grow and mature. I loved the World Cup experience. I felt I did well individually, but it came during a rough time for the team. That’s football.”

March 25, 2024, was the last time Hirving Lozano wore the Mexican national team jersey. Once again sidelined by a leg injury, the winger has been left out of the final roster for this June’s Gold Cup.

Mikey Varas' team currently sits second in the Western Conference with 30 points and will visit their closest challenger, Minnesota United, this Saturday. Minnesota also has 30 points so far in the MLS season. It remains unclear whether Lozano will be available for the match, as he was ruled out of Mexico’s Gold Cup squad due to injury.