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Kylian Mbappé’s legal standoff with former club Paris Saint-Germain has entered a new and more aggressive phase, with the French star's legal team initiating multiple legal procedures to recover €55 million ($61 million) in allegedly unpaid wages and bonuses.
Mbappé, now playing for Real Madrid, claims the Ligue 1 champions failed to honor financial commitments before his departure in 2023. After more than a year of failed negotiations, his legal team has now decided to “go on the attack,” according to his lawyer Delphine Verheyden.
Speaking at a press conference Thursday, Verheyden said they had requested a Paris court to formally begin proceedings, leading to a precautionary freezing of €55 million from PSG’s bank accounts. A hearing is scheduled for May 26. Legal scholar Thomas Clay confirmed the precautionary seizure was approved.
“We gave ourselves a year to resolve this peacefully,” Verheyden stated. “As time went on, the money was still unpaid. We are now shifting strategy.”
In a multi-pronged legal push, Mbappé’s legal team is seeking intervention from France’s sports minister and UEFA. Verheyden warned that PSG’s alleged breach of salary obligations could even result in the club losing its UEFA license — potentially excluding them from the Champions League.
The case is mired in conflicting rulings. Last October, the French League (LFP) backed Mbappé’s claim and ordered PSG to pay the sum. However, both the French Football Federation (FFF) and its appeals commission later dismissed Mbappé's appeals as “inadmissible,” citing parallel proceedings in the civil court system.
PSG has maintained it still wants a peaceful resolution. In a prior statement, the club accused Mbappé’s legal team of acting in “bad faith” and questioned why the case hadn’t been brought before the labor tribunal, which PSG argues is the appropriate forum.
“All the procedures announced by Kylian Mbappé's lawyers only serve to delay the resolution,” PSG stated, asserting they are prepared to present evidence proving the existence of an agreement or settle through mediation.
Tensions between Mbappé and PSG first surfaced in 2023 after the striker informed the club he would not exercise an option to extend his contract through 2025. His decision triggered a cascade of fallout: he was excluded from the team’s preseason tour and sidelined during the start of the 2023–24 season. At one point, he was training with reserve players. Despite a reported €300 million offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal, Mbappé refused to leave, eventually returning to PSG’s lineup.
Mbappé’s lawyers now say they will pursue claims of harassment against the club over his treatment during that period. Separate actions will be launched through an industrial tribunal, and lawsuits have also been filed over online abuse allegedly directed at Mbappé and his mother.
The deteriorating relationship culminated in a hostile farewell, with some fans booing him at his final match at Parc des Princes. Though PSG had once offered him the most lucrative contract in club history in 2022, Mbappé reportedly felt key promises — including signings of top players — were not fulfilled.
Now with Real Madrid, where he joined on a free transfer, the legal shadow of his final year in Paris continues to linger — and potentially, escalate.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / u_goppxlsc6c, Pexels / TBD Traveller
