The long-simmering financial dispute between Kylian Mbappé and his former club Paris Saint-Germain has erupted into a full-blown legal battle in a Paris labour court. The French forward, who now plays for Real Madrid, is seeking a staggering over 260 million euros from the European champion, while PSG has fired back with an equally eye-watering counter-claim of 240 million euros.
Mbappé's demand encompasses several factors, including 55 million euros in unpaid wages and bonuses stemming from a contract dispute. Furthermore, the claim seeks damages related to alleged ill-treatment and psychological harassment, with Mbappé's camp accusing the club of "lofting", i.e. the French practice of isolating a player from the main squad, when he was excluded from the pre-season tour and the first match of the 2023-24 season. Mbappé's advisers maintained that the player is "simply seeking the enforcement of his legal rights, as any employee would."
PSG's counter-suit seeks compensation for what it describes as a "loss of opportunity" related to Mbappé's departure as a free agent in June 2024. The club's claim is partially based on the forward's rejection of a reported 300 million euro transfer offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in 2023.
PSG argues that Mbappé acted "disloyally" by concealing his decision not to extend his contract for nearly 11 months, thereby depriving the club of any possibility of organizing a transfer for a fee.
The feud began in July 2023 after Mbappé refused to sign a contract extension. PSG claimed this was a breach of a subsequent agreement where the player allegedly agreed to relinquish some end-of-contract payments to protect the club's financial stability.
Mbappé's representatives have dismissed the claim of this agreement, stating the player is still waiting for salary and bonus payments. Despite the tension, PSG stated it made "every effort... to reach an amicable solution," while denouncing the proceedings as a "regrettable situation for the player himself, as well as for French football as a whole."
The legal tribunal examined the arguments on Monday, and both sides now await the verdict. The judge announced that the final decision will be delivered on December 16. Mbappé, who scored a club-record 256 goals in seven years at PSG before joining Real Madrid, was not present at the hearing. The outcome of the case is expected to set a legal precedent regarding the relationship between star athletes and their clubs in the context of contract non-renewal.
