The football world is abuzz with the latest development in high-profile transfer saga of Kylian Mbappé. Fayza Lamari, mother of the 25-year-old French superstar, has revealed that her son is prepared to take legal action against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), over unpaid wages and bonuses.
According to sources cited by ESPN, PSG has yet to pay Mbappé a staggering €80 million ($86 million) in bonuses, plus two months of wages for 2024. This substantial sum has become the center of a brewing legal battle between the player and the French champions.
The dispute comes in the wake of Mbappé’s departure from PSG after his contract expired in June. The prolific striker has since joined Real Madrid on a five-year contract as a free agent, fulfilling a long-standing ambition to play for the Spanish giants.
When asked about the possibility of taking PSG to court, Lamari told Le Parisien, as reported in Diario AS, “If we have no other choice, yes, of course. Now, I really hope that the contract we signed two years ago is respected.” She emphasized the need for discretion regarding the details of Mbappé’s interactions with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, noting that most of their meetings over the past two years were conducted in private.
Sources have indicated that PSG is reluctant to pay Mbappé what he is owed, viewing it as a way to recoup money following his departure. This stance is reportedly based on an agreement Mbappé made with the club in August, though the details of this agreement remain unclear.
Lamari likened the situation to a divorce, stating, “Sometimes, when you separate, you have to decide who gets the TV, who gets the furniture or the car … That’s where we are.” She expressed hope that the dispute could be resolved amicably, adding, “I hope that all this does not tarnish everything we have been through, that we do not leave it like this.”
Despite the current tension, Mbappé’s time at PSG was undeniably successful. He leaves as the club’s all-time top scorer with 255 goals and having won six Ligue 1 titles in seven seasons. Lamari reflected on the emotional significance of Mbappé’s PSG career, noting, “When you were born in Paris and grew up in Bondy, playing in the Parc des Princes is quite an event.”
As Mbappé begins his new chapter with Real Madrid, Lamari acknowledged that there is still room for improvement in her son’s game, particularly following a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign where he scored just once in five appearances.
This dispute between Mbappé and PSG highlights the complex nature of modern football transfers and the financial intricacies involved in high-profile moves. As the situation unfolds, it could potentially set precedents for how clubs and players navigate contractual obligations in the aftermath of major transfers.
Source: espn.com