Kylian Mbappé’s Legal Battle with PSG: A Deep Dive into the Ongoing Dispute

Kylian Mbappé’s Legal Battle with PSG: A Deep Dive into the Ongoing Dispute

In the world of football, few names resonate as powerfully as Kylian Mbappé. The French striker, known for his electrifying pace and clinical finishing, is now making headlines not for his on-field exploits but for a legal tussle with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The crux of the matter? A hefty sum of €55 million ($61m) in unpaid wages that Mbappé claims PSG owes him.

Mbappé’s legal team has decided to “go on the attack” to resolve this dispute, which has been simmering for over a year. According to legal expert Thomas Clay, Mbappé has been authorized to make a precautionary seizure of the money, which has been frozen from PSG’s bank accounts. A legal hearing is scheduled for May 26, marking a significant date in this ongoing saga.

Delphine Verheyden, Mbappé’s main lawyer, expressed the team’s frustration, stating, “This story has been going on for just over a year now. One year was the deadline we set for ourselves for trying to resolve this dispute as peacefully as possible.” Despite their efforts, the €55 million remains unpaid, prompting the decision to take a more aggressive legal stance.

Verheyden has also called for intervention from the French sports minister and plans to challenge a decision by the appeals commission of the French Football Federation, which ruled that Mbappé’s appeal against PSG was not receivable. Furthermore, she intends to involve UEFA, arguing that PSG’s failure to meet its salary obligations could jeopardize the club’s license to compete in the Champions League.

PSG, on the other hand, maintains a desire for an “amicable” resolution, despite what they describe as “repeated signs of bad faith” from Mbappé and his refusal of mediation. The club’s statement expressed bewilderment at Mbappé’s legal approach, questioning why he has not taken his case to the labor chamber, which they believe is the appropriate venue for such disputes.

PSG’s statement continued, “All the procedures announced by Kylian Mbappé’s lawyers only serve to delay the resolution of the dispute by the labor chamber, before which PSG is ready to present all the facts, evidence, and testimony proving the existence of an agreement, or better still by means of the transaction that PSG has been calling for over a year.”

To provide some context, last October, the French league appeals commission upheld a decision ordering PSG to pay Mbappé the unpaid wages he seeks. Mbappé claims the club owes him three months’ salary and the last third of a loyalty bonus.

Mbappé’s departure from PSG was not without drama. After scoring a club-record 256 goals in seven years, he joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer. The relationship between Mbappé and PSG soured when he decided not to extend his contract, leading to his sidelining before the 2023-24 season. PSG argued that there was a verbal agreement for Mbappé to relinquish bonuses to return to the team, a claim that Mbappé disputes.

The tension between Mbappé and PSG was palpable, with some fans booing him during his last home game at Parc des Princes. PSG felt betrayed after offering him the most lucrative contract in club history in 2022, while Mbappé was frustrated by unmet promises to sign key players. The contract confusion, with Mbappé believing it extended to 2025, only added to the discord.

In June 2023, Mbappé shocked PSG by announcing he would not exercise the option for an extra year, effectively putting his contract into its final year. This move forced PSG to consider selling him to avoid losing him for nothing. Despite being left off a preseason tour and training with fringe players, Mbappé rejected a €300m ($335m) move to Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal.

Mbappé’s legal team has now initiated action against PSG for harassment due to his treatment and plans to pursue another legal procedure before an industrial tribunal. Additionally, Mbappé and his mother have filed lawsuits for online abuse they received.

• Legal hearing scheduled for May 26
• €55 million in unpaid wages claimed by Mbappé
• PSG seeks an “amicable” resolution
• Mbappé’s legal team alleges harassment

As this legal battle unfolds, the football world watches closely, eager to see how one of the sport’s brightest stars navigates this off-field challenge.