PSG fail to receive Mbappé loyalty bonus payment: is his move to Real Madrid in doubt?

Kylian Mbappé's impending departure from Paris Saint-Germain has turned sour (again), with the two parties at odds over a financial arrangement they had seemingly come to. According to L’Équipe, the Ligue 1 champions haven’t paid the France captain, expected to move to Real Madrid, his monthly salary for April, as well as an additional bonus, having not been paid back the €80 million ($86.83 million) loyalty bonus the player initially waived last summer but was eventually paid in February.

According to the French newspaper, PSG president Nasser Al Khelaïfi remains in charge of the club’s dealings with the attacker, which haven’t gone smoothly in the last 12 months.

In August last year, after he had been was frozen out of the first team for refusing to extend his contract, Mbappé agreed to give up the loyalty bonus so PSG didn’t take a huge financial hit as a result of him leaving on a free transfer this summer.

Will Real Madrid have to pay PSG a transfer fee for Mbappé?

However, it has now been revealed by L’Équipe that Al Khelaïfi made a U-turn and paid Mbappé the bonus in February, instead demanding Real Madrid cover the €80 million ($86.83 million) fee as compensation for the 25-year-old leaving for free.

Florentino Pérez, however, insisted that was completely out of the question, with the LaLiga giants under no obligation to pay for a player who will be out of contract in a few weeks.

PSG are unable to force Mbappé to sign a new deal and stop him from moving to the Spanish capital, where he will reportedly buy ex-teammate Sergio Ramos’ house, if he wishes to do so. The situation has added further strain to the already tense relationship between the presidents of the two clubs.

Nasser Al Khelaïfi’s strained relationships with Mbappé and Florentino Pérez

Up until recently, it had appeared that Mbappé and PSG had finally agreed on an amicable split, which had previously appeared unlikely. But Al Khelaïfi’s attempt to use Pérez and Real Madrid, with whom he has been at odds over the European Super League and previous attempts to sign Mbappé, has added fuel to the fire once again.

The relationship between Mbappé and Al Khelaïfi has completely broken down, with the two no longer on speaking terms. Both parties’ lawyers have been exchanging emails in an attempt to negotiate the terms of the player’s departure. But while PSG are looking for written confirmation that their all-time top scorer will keep his word and waive the €80 million ($86.83 million), Mbappé wants the money he is owed as part of his salary.

Since announcing to club bosses on 13 February that he was intending to leave the club, Mbappé appears to have been “punished” by PSG. Despite starting every game in the Champions League, he didn’t play in 11 of the last 21 games of the season, which has soured the end of his time in Paris. Negotiations continue, but a happy ending seems unlikely.