Kylian Mbappe and his former club Paris Saint-Germain appear set for a legal showdown, with reports suggesting Mbappe is seeking payment for unpaid wages and bonuses. In May, Mbappe announced his departure from PSG after a lengthy seven-year tenure, subsequently finalizing a move to Real Madrid without a transfer fee. However, recent developments indicate Mbappe has approached PSG regarding approximately €100 million in owed payments, as reported by L’Equipe.
The situation escalated following Mbappe’s decision to leave PSG, prompting the club to halt all payments to him starting from February, as disclosed by Info Blast. PSG believed they had a verbal agreement with Mbappe last summer, where he purportedly agreed to forego certain salary payments. Additionally, PSG is requesting repayment of an €80 million loyalty bonus issued to Mbappe in October. The club initially anticipated that Real Madrid would cover this bonus as part of Mbappe’s transfer, but Real Madrid claims they were unaware of such an obligation and have no plans to fulfill it.
According to PSG’s statement to Info Blast, they assert that Mbappe had committed to protecting the club’s interests upon his departure. This commitment allegedly included assurances that he would not leave on a free transfer or, in the event of a free transfer, he would relinquish certain financial entitlements. The recent payment disputes between Mbappe and PSG appear to stem from these unresolved financial obligations.
Currently, Mbappe is actively participating in Euro 2024 as a key player for the French national team. Following the conclusion of the tournament, he will refocus on club football and prepare for his inaugural season with Real Madrid. Meanwhile, PSG is diligently searching for a suitable replacement for Mbappe and has been linked with several talented forwards, including Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli.
The saga between Mbappe and PSG underscores the complexities of modern football transfers, where financial agreements and player contracts can become contentious post-departure. As both parties prepare for legal negotiations, the outcome could potentially set a precedent for future player transactions within the sport.
