KYLIAN MBAPPE’S bitter rift with former club PSG deepened as the France star rejected an offer to agree to a “mediation” process in his £46.5million contract claim.
Mbappe is demanding the cash despite his free transfer to Real Madrid, arguing it is owed as a signing bonus, his final three months’ salary and an “ethical” payment he believes he is due.
PSG claim Mbappe’s lawyer sent a legal letter giving up his right to the payment in August 2023 if he was allowed to return to the first team for the rest of the season before being entitled to a free transfer.
But the striker’s legal team have insisted the agreement became null and void because it was not signed by both parties by August 14 while the promise that he would be selected by coach Luis Enrique was then broken in the final weeks of last season.
A meeting brokered by Ligue 1 chiefs saw Mbappe and his representatives invited to attend “mediation”, which was “welcomed” by the French champions.
But in a withering response, Mbappe and his advisors dismissed the idea.
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His lawyers said: “The eventuality of a mediation was mentioned. This possibility was rejected during the meeting by the player’s representative.
“A mediation would be useless so as to record a lack of payment that would be seen from a simple analysis of the player’s payslip.”
The development follows criticism of Mbappe for his response to criticism during the international break.
He started France’s 3-1 loss to Italy in Paris last Friday before coming on as a sub in a 2-0 victory over Belgium in Lyon three days later.
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As expected, Mbappe was booed by fans in the first encounter – as it was at PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium.
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But ex-France defender Bixente Lizarazu was “embarrassed” by the the 25-year-old’s “inappropriate” reaction when questioned on his subdued display.
Mbappe said: “I’m at a stage in my life and my career where I no longer care [about criticism].
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“I come, I play and I try to do my best to help the team.
“What people think is the least of my worries.”
But 1998 World Cup winner Lizarazu, 54, said: “Kylian Mbappe’s press conference surprised and embarrassed me.
“The words used were inappropriate, not those of a leader and even less those of a captain.
“You cannot be insensitive to the feelings of the fans of the French team, to the frustrations they may harbour, to the questions they may have.”
Mbappe has ht three goals in five games for Real since his summer switch.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
