Mbappé Faces Former Club PSG Amidst Legal Battles and Bitter Fallout
The Club World Cup semi-final between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain is set to be more than just a sporting contest for Kylian Mbappé, as the French superstar prepares to confront his former club amidst ongoing legal disputes and a deeply fractured relationship.
This Wednesday’s match pits the Real Madrid forward against the institution where he spent seven seasons, ultimately failing to reach the level of performance he’s now achieving. However, this reunion won’t be a nostalgic affair; it’s a clash between parties embroiled in a contentious legal battle, with PSG reportedly harboring no regrets over the striker’s departure.
For years, PSG built its team around Mbappé, investing heavily in surrounding him with world-class talent. When he left for Real Madrid a year ago, the Parisian side experienced a surprising liberation, culminating in their first-ever Champions League title with a team that prioritized collective strength over individual brilliance. This victory brought relief to supporters who had previously blamed Mbappé for their failures, and now see him as the subject of ongoing litigation.
The core of the dispute centers around a claimed debt of €55 million in unpaid salary and bonuses. PSG has even had the player’s accounts seized, though an initial ruling by Ligue 1 favored Mbappé, the club has appealed to a higher court. Simultaneously, PSG is demanding €98 million from the footballer. “The objective is not to recover the €98 million, but to demonstrate that if he owes us money, his claim is unfounded,” explained Thomas Azzaro, the lawyer representing PSG in the judicial proceedings.
Adding another layer to the complex dynamic, Mbappé will also encounter his former coach, Luis Enrique. Enrique, who arrived in Paris two years ago, initially sought to elevate Mbappé to the status of the world’s best player, but ultimately saw him depart on a free transfer – a development that, surprisingly, proved beneficial. Enrique openly acknowledged that Mbappé’s unpredictable movement on the field hindered his tactical control. “The fact of having a player who moved where he wanted implies that there are game situations that I don’t control,” Enrique admitted, recognizing that the player’s departure ultimately allowed him to implement his preferred style of play.
This sentiment was reportedly articulated during a heated locker room discussion following PSG’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Barcelona last year. A recording of the conversation, which surfaced in October after the release of the documentary series “You Have No Idea,” revealed Enrique’s blunt assessment. “I have read that you liked Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan took all his classmates from the hosts and began to defend as a son of a bitch. You have to give that example, first as a person and then as a player, to go to press,” Enrique stated, urging Mbappé to embrace a more comprehensive role.
Enrique further emphasized the importance of leadership beyond goal-scoring. “Why do this? To be a leader. Because you think about scoring goals, of course, you are a phenomenon, a world top, without any doubt. But that is not worth that. A real leader is that when you cannot help us with the goals, you help us defensive. If you put yourself as an example to press we will have a team machine. That is what I want you to do as a leader here in the two months you have left because I want you to go through the big door.” Ultimately, Mbappé left PSG without achieving European glory, paving the way for Enrique to build a cohesive team that thrived on collective effort.
Despite the professional friction, the relationship between the two men wasn’t entirely adversarial. Mbappé publicly praised Enrique and sporting director Luis Campos during his final days at the club, stating, “From the directive they made me understand that I would not play, they told me to my face, they spoke to me violently. Luis Enrique and Luis Campos saved me. Without them I would not have stepped on the pitch.” Today, their paths will cross again on the pitch, carrying the weight of a complicated past.
