By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – Kylian Mbappe has become the world’s most expensive footballer after dramatically turning his back on Real Madrid and signing a new three-year contract with Paris St. Germain reportedly worth almost €5 million a month.
The French superstar had been close to joining Real on a free transfer this summer but suddenly announced he was staying in Paris, much to the anger of La Liga officials who cynically claimed it was all about money.
“I’m convinced that I can continue to grow here, at a club which is giving itself every means to reach the top,” Mbappe said Sunday before PSG beat Metz 5-0 in its final home game of the season in which he scored a hattrick. “I am aware of the chance and privilege I had at being coveted by such an institution.”
“I am also delighted to continue to play in France, the country where I was born, where I have grown up and where I have made my name.”
Real face Liverpool in the Champions League final in Paris on Saturday and Mbappe added: “I can imagine their disappointment. I will be their biggest fan on Saturday here in my home.”
La Liga responded to the about-turn by calling it “scandalous” and announcing it will file a complaint to UEFA as well as French and EU authorities over PSG’s “non-compliance with UEFA’s financial fair play”.
“This type of agreement attacks the economic sustainability of European football, putting at risk hundreds of thousands of jobs and sporting integrity at risk – not only in European competitions, but also in domestic leagues,” La Liga said in a furious response.
“It is scandalous a club like PSG, which last season reported losses of more than €220 million, after accumulating losses of more than €700 million in prior seasons (while reporting sponsorship income at a doubtful valuation) with a cost of sports staff around €650 million for this 2021-22 season, can face an agreement of these characteristics while those clubs that could accept the arrival of the player without seeing their wage bill compromised, are left without being able to sign him.”
“For all of the above, LaLiga is going to file a complaint against PSG before UEFA, administrative and tax authorities in France and before the competent bodies of the European Union, to continue defending the economic ecosystem of European football and its sustainability.”
La Liga also attacked the Qatari-owned club as well as its president Nasser Al-Khelaifi – head of the European Clubs Association and a member of the UEFA executive committee – for “endangering European football on the same level as the European Super League”.
Mbappé, who starred for France at the 2018 World Cup, would have been a statement signing for Real who have long pursued him. But instead of lining up alongside international teammate Karim Benzema at Madrid, Mbappe, who scored 28 goals for PSG this season, will continue to be part of a stellar attacking trio with Neymar and Lionel Messi.
Spanish league president Javier Tebas, who not so long ago accused PSG of “financial doping”, was equally incandesent about the 23-year-old’s sudden change of heart.
“It is an insult to soccer that PSG is going to renew Mbappé with huge quantities of money (who knows from where and how they will pay them) after losses of €700 million in recent seasons and more than €600 million in salaries,” Tebas wrote on Twitter. “Al-Khelafi is as dangerous as the Super League.”
Ignoring the flurry of brickbats thrown in his direction, Al-Khelaifi heaped praise on Mbappe’s decision which surprised many observers given PSG’s annual failure to win the Champions League, having this season been knocked out yet again by Real
“Kylian’s commitment to PSG represents an amazing milestone in the history of our club, and a wonderful moment for our fans around the world,” said Al-Khelaifi.
“I am incredibly proud and very happy – for Kylian, for our fans, and our entire PSG family worldwide – that we will continue our wonderful journey together. For our fans and our club, the greatest chapters of our future lie ahead.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713580218labto1713580218ofdlr1713580218owedi1713580218sni@w1713580218ahsra1713580218w.wer1713580218dna1713580218