According to French media, the lawsuit was filed last month but the details of the case have only been widely shared since yesterday (June 26).
The case has now been transferred to the French Anti- indifferent Crime Supplementary Unit ( BRDP) and two independent investigators have been appointed to clarify Mbappe's allegations.
The incident started in the summer of 2023, when Mbappe announced that he would not extend his contract with PSG to prepare to join Real Madrid as a free agent in 2024. Believing the player had broken his promise, PSG were said to have tried to punish him by threatening to push him to the bench for the whole season.
Thanks to the intervention of coach Luis Enrique, Mbappe is still on the field - on the condition of giving up the $44 million "loyalty fee".
PSG insists the two sides have reached a smooth agreement but Mbappe has since filed a lawsuit, demanding compensation of up to $60 million. Mbappe believes that being forced to sign a new contract under pressure to be promoted to the bench and not allowed to play is an unacceptable act of " harassment and blackmail".
The case is not only a legal battle between a player and an old club, but also exposes the dark sides of professional football. In January 2024, the French Professional Players Association warned of the situation of players being threatened if they do not sign a contract according to the team's wishes, and Mbappe is considered a typical example.
Mbappe has long been viewed by PSG as a treasure, has more influence than Messi or Neymar, and has even been held back by President Emmanuel Macron himself.
In his 7 years with the French team, Mbappe has played 306 matches, scored 255 goals and had 108 assists. He won 6 Ligue 1 and 3 French Cups and many other titles. However, Mbappe and PSG have never once touched the prestigious Champions League trophy.
After leaving PSG, Mbappe joined Real Madrid and won his first "European Golden Boot" award in his career. Meanwhile, PSG made unexpected strides when they won the Champions League for the first time and completed a historic treble.
Now, Mbappe and PSG are likely to go to court to resolve past conflicts.
