Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 8y

Paris Saint-Germain's Salvatore Sirigu joins Sevilla on year-long loan

Salvatore Sirigu has joined Sevilla on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain, ending his search for a new club.

Sirigu, 29, was firmly established as the French champions' starting goalkeeper until the arrival of Kevin Trapp last summer.

However, after slipping to second choice behind the German, the return of Alphonse Areola from his loan spell with Villarreal relegated him one place further to third choice.

The Italy international has signed a year-long loan deal in Seville but there is no option for the Spaniards to buy the shot stopper, according to L'Equipe.

Instead, the three-time defending Europa League champions will pay an estimated €1.5 million of his €3.4m annual salary, with PSG picking up the remaining €1.9m.

Les Parisiens were not thought to be happy with the possibility that they might have to continue paying the former Palermo man.

Given the risk that refusing to grant the move would have disrupted the changing room -- where Sirigu remains an influential and popular figure -- though, the capital club were prepared to make an exception.

Sirigu arrived in Paris from Sicily back in 2011 and quickly established himself as the team's starting goalkeeper ahead of Nicolas Douchez -- who himself was a summer signing that year.

The Italian went on to make 145 Ligue 1 appearances for the French giants and he was also named Goalkeeper of the Year twice consecutively in 2012-13 and 13-14, as well as featuring in Le Championnat's Team of the Season in those two same campaigns.

Blanc's arrival saw Sirigu's role in the side questioned and it was no surprise when the French tactician brought Trapp in to unseat the Azzurri star last summer.

Last term was a difficult one for the PSG No. 30 and he was regularly linked with a move away from Parc des Princes although nothing materialised.

Thiago Motta recently admitted that Sirigu's teammates did not really understand the goalkeeper's fall from grace in Paris.

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