The entourage of Kylian Mbappe announced on Wednesday that they had rejected the French football league’s (LFP) offer to mediate in the ongoing dispute between the France captain and his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The conflict centres around Mbappe’s claim that PSG owes him €55 million ($60.6m) in unpaid wages and bonuses, a sum the French champions argue the player agreed to waive in August 2023.
Mbappe, who transferred to Real Madrid this summer, is demanding the amount, which includes a signing bonus he had expected to receive in February, his salary for the final three months of his PSG contract, and an “ethical bonus” for that period. The two parties’ lawyers met early on Wednesday after Mbappe referred his case to the LFP’s legal committee.
The LFP proposed to mediate the conflict between the two sides, which Mbappe’s representatives quickly dismissed. “The possibility of mediation was discussed this morning,” Mbappe’s entourage told AFP in a statement. “This option was rejected by the player’s representative during the meeting. Mediation would be useless as it would merely confirm the absence of payment, a fact that is clear from a simple analysis of the player’s payslip,” they added.
PSG, however, welcomed the idea of mediation and expressed their satisfaction with Wednesday’s two-hour hearing before the LFP’s commission. In a statement, the Parisian club reiterated that Mbappe had made repeated public and private commitments which they believe he must honour, especially considering the unprecedented benefits he enjoyed during his seven years at the club.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
“Paris Saint-Germain is very pleased with today’s hearing before the commission,” the club said. “We reminded the commission that the player made clear commitments that must be upheld, having been granted exceptional advantages during his time at the club. In light of PSG’s oral and written evidence, the commission has recommended mediation, a process PSG has sought for months,” they added.
The commission has now invited Mbappe to reconsider the mediation process as a possible solution to the dispute, although his representatives seem adamant that it will not be necessary.
The conflict between Mbappe and PSG has garnered significant media attention, given the player’s stature in world football and his high-profile move to Real Madrid. It remains to be seen how the legal and financial aspects of this dispute will unfold.
Also read | Nagaland bags 1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze medals at NE badminton c’ship