In a recent development, Kylian Mbappé has filed a legal complaint against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) citing moral harassment, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office. The star forward, now with Real Madrid, claims his previous club owes him a significant amount of 55 million euros in unpaid wages. The legal dispute comes amidst strained relations between Mbappé and PSG, especially concerning his treatment by the club after he decided not to extend his contract.
Mbappé’s dissatisfaction with PSG stems from his experience of being sidelined ahead of the 2023-24 season. The term “lofting” was used by the striker, which refers to the practice of isolating a player from the main squad due to sporting, administrative, or disciplinary issues. The prosecutor’s office confirmed that Mbappé is denouncing this practice as part of his harassment claim.
Having moved to Real Madrid last summer, Mbappé left PSG after a remarkable period of scoring 256 goals over seven years. This move occurred after PSG secured the Champions League title without him. His final days at the club were tense, with some fans expressing their dissatisfaction by booing during his last home appearance at Parc des Princes. Tensions rose after Mbappé felt let down by PSG when promises to strengthen the squad with key players were not realized. He had previously signed a lucrative contract in 2022, with expectations that were not met.
The contractual issues escalated further when Mbappé informed PSG in June 2023 that he would not be activating the optional extra year on his contract. This left the club in a precarious position, contemplating the risk of losing a star player for free if not sold before the contract’s end. Consequently, Mbappé was excluded from the preseason tour in Japan and South Korea, training with players on the fringes instead. A lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal was rejected by Mbappé, against PSG’s preference to sell rather than risk a free departure in 2024.
Despite the exclusion from PSG’s opening league match of the season, Mbappé ultimately returned to the playing lineup after negotiations. However, his legal team had already made clear intentions in April to pursue an action against PSG for their treatment, marking the ongoing conflict between the player and his former club.