Mbappe officially forces PSG to pay a heavy price

Kylian Mbappe succeeded in his legal battle against PSG when a French court mandated the Paris club to settle 60 million Euros in owed salary and bonuses, concluding a lengthy legal conflict.

Kylian Mbappe emerged victorious in the intense legal fight with PSG after a French court ruled that the club must pay him 60 million Euros in outstanding wages and bonuses. This ruling dealt a significant blow to the current Ligue 1 champions, especially after PSG’s staggering counterclaim of 440 million Euros against their former player was completely dismissed by the court.

According to the ruling issued on December 16, the French labor court sided with the Real Madrid star, ordering PSG to pay Mbappe the massive sum of 60 million Euros. This decision closes one of the most heated disputes in modern football and confirms Mbappe’s claim that his former club unlawfully withheld his wages and bonuses during his final months in Paris.

The court found that PSG failed to pay Mbappe’s salary for three months—April, May, and June 2024—along with ethical bonuses and the final installment of his signing fee as per the signed agreement. The total amount matched what the French Professional Football League (LFP) had recognized in two separate decisions earlier, but PSG refused to comply with those rulings.

Initially, Mbappe only demanded 55 million Euros from PSG, but this figure was later increased to 263 million Euros after he requested the court to reclassify fixed-term contracts as long-term ones. However, the panel of judges, consisting of two employer and two employee representatives, rejected this request.

Another setback for PSG in this ruling was the court’s complete dismissal of their financial counterattack. Previously, the Paris club attempted to “turn the tables” with a counterclaim of up to 440 million Euros, seeking compensation from Mbappe.

PSG argued they deserved this huge amount due to “damages” and “lost opportunities” caused by Mbappe leaving on a free transfer, which they claimed breached a verbal “gentlemen’s agreement.” However, the court concluded there was no legal basis for these claims and rejected the argument that Mbappe agreed to forgo wages in exchange for being reintegrated into the squad in August 2023.

The core of the dispute centered on the alleged verbal agreement between the player and PSG’s chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi. For a long time, PSG insisted that Mbappe’s financial claim was a betrayal of their commitment. Nevertheless, the French labor court emphasized that PSG could not produce any written evidence proving the existence of an agreement to waive financial rights.

Mbappe’s lawyers shared upon leaving the court: “We are very satisfied; this is the victory we have awaited for a long time. This is the third time this ruling has been upheld. Over the past 18 months, Kylian Mbappe has only asked for one thing: to be paid the wages and bonuses for the work he has done.

Furthermore, the court ordered immediate enforcement of the ruling, meaning the club must pay right away. Football is not a lawless zone. We hope PSG will comply voluntarily without requiring enforcement intervention; that would be the civilized way. This is not a personal matter but a fundamental principle: work must be compensated.”

PSG has not commented immediately after the ruling but has been ordered to publish a statement acknowledging the court’s decision on their official website. A press release is expected to be issued soon.

Previously, the LFP affirmed that their decisions could not be appealed within the league system. However, this civil court ruling carries greater legal binding. Still, according to sources, PSG intends to continue appealing, which may prolong the case further.

This ruling is seen as a bitter end to a relationship once hoped to define an era. Mbappe left PSG as the club’s all-time top scorer with 256 goals, but the departure was marred by tension. From being excluded from the preseason tour in Japan to a frosty relationship with chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the split was noisy and turbulent.

Now, wearing the Real Madrid jersey and having already made his mark in La Liga, Mbappe hopes this ruling will allow him to fully close the Paris chapter. After his legal victory, the French star aims to defeat his former club by helping his new team win the Champions League this season. Both clubs are currently in strong positions in European competition, with PSG third and just one point ahead of Real Madrid.