In a move aimed at closing one of the most controversial chapters in its recent history, Paris Saint-Germain has decided not to appeal a French labor court ruling ordering the club to pay its former star Kylian Mbappé a substantial sum of €61 million (approximately $71.8 million). The club confirmed in an official statement to AFP on Friday that this decision reflects its desire to definitively end the legal dispute and focus on the future.
Background to the conflict: A tense end to a long-term relationship
The roots of this dispute trace back to Mbappé's final season with the Parisian club (2023-2024), when the player informed the club's management of his intention not to activate the clause extending his contract for an additional year, meaning he would leave for free in the summer of 2024. This decision angered the club's management, who felt betrayed after offering him a historic contract in 2022 to persuade him to stay and reject Real Madrid's offer. As a result, the club temporarily excluded Mbappé from the team's preseason tour before a temporary settlement was reached, allowing him to return. With the season drawing to a close and his departure seemingly certain, the club withheld the player's salary and bonuses for April and May as a means of pressuring him to waive some of his entitlements. Mbappé and his legal team refused, initiating a legal battle that was recently decided in his favor.
The importance of the decision and its impact on the club's future
Paris Saint-Germain's decision not to appeal represents a strategic turning point. Instead of prolonging the legal battle, the club opted to absorb the financial loss to bring the dispute to a definitive end. A club statement read: “Out of a sense of responsibility and a desire to bring a definitive conclusion to proceedings that have lasted far too long, the club has decided not to prolong this dispute.” This decision allows the management to fully focus on its new sporting project under coach Luis Enrique, which is based on teamwork rather than reliance on a single star player – a philosophy that has begun to bear fruit since Mbappé's departure.
The final fee, estimated at between €60 and €61 million, includes approximately €55 million in unpaid wages and bonuses, plus nearly €6 million in vacation pay. After seven successful seasons at the Parc des Princes, Mbappé moved to Real Madrid on a free transfer, where he is expected to earn an annual salary of around €30 million. During his time at PSG, Mbappé became the club's all-time leading scorer with 256 goals in 308 appearances, but he was unable to lead the team to its ultimate dream of winning the Champions League, a title the club is now striving to achieve with a new, cohesive unit.
