Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé Sues PSG for ‘Moral Harassment’
Kylian Mbappé has lodged a legal complaint against Paris Saint-Germain, alleging moral harassment, as confirmed by the Paris prosecutor’s office on Thursday.
The Real Madrid luminary finds himself in conflict with his former club, asserting that PSG owes him €55 million ($61 million) in unpaid wages.
Mbappé has expressed dissatisfaction with his treatment by the Ligue 1 club when he was excluded from the team prior to the 2023-24 season, following his decision not to extend his contract.
The prosecutor’s office stated that Mbappé is “denouncing the ‘lofting’ he purportedly experienced at Paris Saint-Germain.”
In France, the term ‘lofting’ refers to the practice of isolating or excluding a player from the main squad for sporting, administrative, or disciplinary reasons.
Mbappé joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer after amassing a club-record 256 goals during his seven-year tenure at PSG, who secured the Champions League title without him this year.
Mbappé’s association with PSG concluded amidst profound discord, with some supporters jeering him during his final home match at Parc des Princes.
PSG felt betrayed by Mbappé after offering him the most lucrative contract in the club’s history upon his signing in 2022.
Nevertheless, Mbappé was reportedly disillusioned, believing that promises to acquire key players were not fulfilled. Upon signing in 2022, he was presented to fans holding a jersey emblazoned with 2025.
Mbappé was said to be irked because the contract was valid until 2024, with an option for an additional season.
In June 2023, Mbappé astonished PSG by informing them he would not exercise the option for an extra year. With his contract effectively in its final year, it compelled PSG to consider selling his contract to prevent losing him for nothing upon expiration.
His tenure at PSG could have concluded that summer amid a fraught transfer impasse.
After informing the club of his decision not to extend, Mbappé was omitted from the squad for a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea and relegated to training apart from the first team. PSG expressed a preference to transfer him rather than allow him to depart for free in 2024, but he declined a €300 million ($351.4 million) offer from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.
PSG excluded Mbappé from the opening league match of that season, though he soon returned to the lineup following negotiations with the club.
Mbappé’s legal representatives announced in April that they would pursue legal action against PSG for harassment due to the manner in which he was treated at the time.
