Forward Kylian Mbappe has enlisted a lawyer’s intervention as PSG refuses to pay him $87 million, with the contract between the two parties nearing expiration.

Last year, Mbappe informed PSG that he would not renew his contract, intending to leave as a free agent in the summer of 2024. At that time, the French national team captain was isolated from the first team by PSG, facing the risk of sitting out the entire season. To be allowed back to play, Mbappe agreed to waive the $87 million loyalty fee. However, it’s not ruled out that in this agreement, PSG will still pay the loyalty fee to Mbappe under certain circumstances. In February 2024, PSG still paid $87 million to Mbappe, according to L’Equipe. President Nasser Al Khelaifi and associates explained that PSG did so hoping that Real Madrid would reimburse the same amount to the French club, to sign the 26-year-old star. However, President Florentino Perez affirmed that Real would not pay a penny to a player whose contract with PSG ends in late June 2024.

Khelaifi was dissatisfied with Perez’s decision, further exacerbating the disagreement between the two leaders. PSG’s president has long had a strained relationship with his counterpart at Real.

Therefore, as a form of retaliation, PSG deliberately “forgot” to pay Mbappe’s April 2024 salary and a bonus expiring at the end of February 2024. This salary bonus amounts to $87 million, the same as the loyalty fee the club paid to the French striker.

In recent days, lawyers from both sides have been in constant communication via email. Mbappe’s lawyer demands the club to pay the $87 million owed to him in salary bonuses. Meanwhile, the club’s lawyer wants to draft a written agreement regarding Mbappe’s refusal to accept the loyalty fee last summer.

Mbappe rose to fame at Monaco before moving to PSG in the summer of 2017 for a transfer fee of $195 million, the second-highest in history. He has scored 256 goals in 308 games for PSG, winning 15 titles, but has not won the Champions League. The 26-year-old forward is set to join Real Madrid from July 1, 2024.