Kylian Mbappe vs PSG round two: Another legal battle over erupts—Did the club stop Real Madrid move in 2023?

The tensions between Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain continue to escalate, with a new legal battle now unfolding in court.

The tensions between Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain continue to escalate, with a new legal battle now unfolding in court. While his move to Real Madrid seemed to close a turbulent chapter, the French superstar is now taking legal action against his former club — and the reasons are anything but simple. 

After years of speculation and drama, Kylian Mbappe officially joined Real Madrid in 2024, ending a long-winded saga filled with failed transfers, massive contracts, and power struggles. For many, this signaled closure. However, just as the dust began to settle, new details have emerged that reveal the off-field conflict between Mbappe and PSG is far from over. 

On May 16, 2025, the France captain filed a formal complaint in Paris, setting the wheels in motion for a judicial investigation. According to AFP and Le Parisien, two magistrates have been appointed to investigate the matter, which centers on PSG’s treatment of the player during the 2023 pre-season. 

The accusation: ‘Moral harassment’ behind closed doors

“Kylian Mbappe has filed a lawsuit against PSG for ATTEMPTED EXTORTION, as they tried to force him to sign a new contract in 2023, prohibiting him from training with the team,” Agence France-Presse reported. 

The issue stems from the summer of 2023, when PSG placed Mbappe in the now-infamous “loft” — a term used in French soccer to describe players who are isolated from first-team activities due to contractual disagreements. In Mbappe’s case, the club sidelined him and banned him from training with the squad, all in an attempt to pressure him into triggering a contract extension clause. 

The root of the controversy lies in the contract signed in 2022. While PSG publicly declared it ran until 2025, the actual deal was a two-year contract with an option to extend, leaving Mbappe free to walk away in 2024. When the player declined to trigger the option in 2023, PSG allegedly retaliated by removing him from training and attempting to corner him into signing a new contract. 

According to the lawsuit, the 26-year-old is accusing the club of moral harassment and attempted extortion, arguing that their actions amounted to psychological pressure. This complaint is part of a larger pattern in French soccer. The French Professional Footballers’ Union (UNFP) had already filed a broader case in January 2024 against several Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs for similar tactics used to force players into renewing contracts or accepting transfers. 

Parallel financial dispute: Battle over wages 

Mbappe’s legal war with PSG does not end with the harassment claim. In a parallel case, he is also fighting for $64 million in unpaid wages, relating to the final months of his PSG tenure. The Parisian club contends that he voluntarily waived this amount as part of his departure deal. However, the player’s camp insists no formal documentation confirms such an agreement, leaving the matter in legal limbo.