PSG must pay Mbappé US$60 million but club disputes latest ruling

PARIS (AP):

THE FRENCH league appeals commission has upheld the decision ordering Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé 55 million euros (US$60 million) in unpaid wages.

The LFP legal commission ruled in favour of Mbappé last month but PSG insisted it did not owe him money and appealed. The parties were heard again on October 15 and the verdict remained unchanged on Friday.

“(PSG) must pay him the parts of his salary he is claiming,” the LFP told The Associated Press in an email.

“This decision is not subject to (further) appeal, but can be raised before the executive committee of the FFF (French Football Federation).”

PSG said Mbappé was showing “bad faith” and it intended to contest the verdict again, without elaborating.

Mbappé previously rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with PSG, saying the club owed him three months’ salary and the last third of a loyalty bonus.

He joined Real Madrid this summer on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals in seven years for PSG.

PSG argued that when Mbappé was sidelined before the 2023-24 season – following his decision not to extend his contract – there was a verbal agreement with him opting to relinquish bonuses in order to return to the team.

AMICABLE SOLUTION

“PSG will be forced to bring the case before the competent courts while continuing, not withstanding repeated bad faith, to try to find an amicable solution with the player,” the club said.

Mbappé enjoyed “unprecedented benefits” at the club, it said.

“PSG will be forced to have the player’s bad faith judged by the competent courts if the player regrettably seeks to pursue this incomprehensively damaging dispute,” the club added.

“Fundamentally, this is a question of good faith, honesty, upholding values and respect for the institution of Paris (Saint-Germain) and its fans.”

Mbappé’s relationship with PSG ended amid deep tensions and some fans booed him in his last home game at Parc des Princes.

PSG felt let down by Mbappé after offering him the most lucrative contract in club history when he signed a new contract in 2022.

But Mbappé was frustrated because he felt promises to sign key players were not kept. When he signed that deal, he was paraded in front of fans holding up a jersey with 2025 on it. Mbappé was reportedly annoyed because the contract was until 2024 – with a player’s option for an extra season.

Mbappé stunned PSG in June last year by informing the club he would not take the option for an extra year. With his contract effectively into its final year, it put PSG in the position of needing to sell Mbappé to avoid losing him for nothing when the contract expired.

His PSG career could have ended in the summer of 2023 amid a tense transfer standoff. After telling the club he would not extend, Mbappé was left off a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea and forced to train with fringe players. PSG said it would rather sell him than let the player leave for free in 2024, but he rejected a 300 million euros move to Saudi team Al-Hilal.

PSG left Mbappé out of the opening league game of that season but he soon returned to the lineup following talks.