Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly demanding €98 million (£82.5m/$109m) from Kylian Mbappe for his "delaying tactics" as their court battle continues.
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Mbappe claiming €55m in unpaid wagesPSG file lawsuit demanding €98mTrial to take place on May 26Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to PSG filed a counterclaim in the Paris Judicial Court on Monday, requesting the cancellation of a €55m (£46m/$60m) seizure order that Mbappe had successfully placed on his former club’s accounts in April. Lawyers representing PSG argued that the legal basis for the seizure was flawed, as they believe Mbappe failed to demonstrate that the debt was clearly owed or that there was an imminent risk of non-payment.
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In response, Mbappe’s legal camp defended the precautionary seizure and reiterated that only a fraction of the amount owed had been recovered. According to his lawyer, Thomas Clay, just €14m out of the claimed €55m had been retrieved during the process, and the rest needs to be paid up.
WHAT ARE THE TWO PARTIES SAYING
Renaud Semerdjian, one of the club’s legal representatives, told that the new €98m demand was not necessarily intended to be enforced. Rather, it was meant to challenge the legitimacy of Mbappé’s initial claim.
"Kylian Mbappe owes PSG money through the delaying tactics that have caused him harm," he said. "He has not provided sufficient evidence of an apparent debt and failed to demonstrate any threat to recovery. The purpose is not to recover the €98m but to show that if he owes us money, his claim is unfounded. Mbappe demanded the world from PSG, received it, and then tried to run away and steal it all, hoping no one would notice. Simply because he is Kylian Mbappe. The great irony is that the player mocked the club that gave him everything, saying he was not 'Kylian Saint-Germain'."
However, his legal team fired back and Clay has asked: "Where is the money? It wasn't that easy to seize; the banks refused. We are dealing with the sovereign state of Qatar that permanently finances this club. There is a risk of recovery when there is a lack of transparency in the accounts, and we know the difficulties with the states."
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PSG & MBAPPE?
After months of back-and-forth accusations and legal manoeuvres, the end of the saga may finally be in sight. The Paris Judicial Court is expected to deliver its ruling on May 26, a decision that could either vindicate Mbappe’s financial claims or validate PSG’s defence and counterclaim.
