Fabián Ruiz: The Surprising Reason Behind His PSG Transfer Over Real Madrid

In an interview with Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport in late September 2026, Faouzi Ghoulam shared a surprising insight into the transfer of Fabián Ruiz. The former SSC Napoli defender claimed that Paris Saint-Germain made their move primarily to beat Real Madrid to the punch.

Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti knew the Spanish midfielder inside out, having managed him in Italy following his arrival from Real Betis. According to the former defender, the Madrid hierarchy planned to wait until the summer of 2023 to secure the player as a free agent once his contract in Naples expired.

PSG caught the Spanish giants off guard by striking on August 30, 2022. The Parisian club paid a fee estimated between €21.5 million and €23 million according to Reuters. This swift swoop unfolded amid freezing relations between the two boardrooms following the contract extension of Kylian Mbappé in the French capital.

The player’s early months in a Parisian shirt lent credence to the idea of a purely political move. Sparingly used at first and delivering underwhelming displays, the Spain international struggled to justify his place in a stacked squad.

Everything changed dramatically when Luis Enrique took charge and unlocked the full work rate of his compatriot. The former SSC Napoli man has grown into an indispensable engine in the Parisian midfield. What began as a strategic power play has turned into an undeniable sporting triumph for Paris Saint-Germain.