Former PSG chief admits he was ‘ALWAYS against’ Kylian Mbappe’s monster contract extension in 2022… as club’s legal battle with the Real Madrid star over almost £50m in unpaid wages rumbles on

The former Paris Saint-Germain sporting director has insisted he was ‘always against’ Kylian Mbappe’s lucrative contract extension at the Parc des Princes in 2022.

The Ligue 1 giants, keen not to lose their superstar to Real Madrid that summer, offered Mbappe an unprecedented two-year contract to convince him to stay, handing over control of managerial decisions and a wage value. around £4 million a month, according to reports in France.

However, the contract did not stop Mbappe from making an acrimonious exit from the French capital two seasons later, as the World Cup winner opted not to activate his optional extra year at the Parc de Princes and opted to sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer in July .

Since his departure, Mbappe has been embroiled in a legal dispute with his former employers, who he claims is owed £46 million in unpaid wages and bonuses.

PSG confirmed they would take the case to court after the French Football League’s governing body (LFP) ruled in Mbappe’s favor last month.

Mbappe is embroiled in a legal dispute with PSG, claiming they owe him £46 million in unpaid wages

Leonardo, pictured with the French superstar ahead of the 2021 Ballon d’Or ceremony, opposed the extension because he believes a ‘footballer should never be bigger than a club’.

Speaking about Mbappe’s contract extension, which ultimately proved to be a disastrous financial decision after the France captain left Paris on a free transfer, former PSG sporting director Leonardo told Marca: ‘I was against it, especially at the level at which it was done. Always. From the beginning.’

‘In fact, I think he would be sold at the end of the 2020-2021 season, when PSG received an offer from Real Madrid and he only had one year left on his contract.’

‘How can this situation be controlled? Losing a player is annoying, but it doesn’t kill the club.

‘Which major institution collapsed after losing a player? No. It may take a while, but you always recover. I have been a player, but a footballer can never be more important than a club.’

Leonardo, who played for the Parisian club during his playing career, returned to PSG in 2011 as the club’s new director of football. He left for AC Milan in 2018 before returning to the French club in the same role a year later.

A PSG spokesperson responded to the LFP’s statement in favor of Mbappe in October, telling Reuters: “What is in dispute and will ultimately be heard before an appropriate tribunal is that the original contract was legally amended in August 2023 in relation to the 2024 period. -25 season, and also fully recognized by the player, also in January 2024 – until the player decided to give up all his obligations when he left the club.

‘It is a matter of law and fact that the player has made clear, repeated public and private commitments which the club simply requests are fulfilled, with the player receiving unprecedented benefits from the club for seven years in Paris.

‘The club hopes that these basic obligations will simply be respected, knowing that the club will be forced to have the player’s bad faith assessed by the competent courts if the player unfortunately tries to continue this incomprehensibly damaging dispute, for himself and for French football. .’

Mbappé left Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid this summer, signing on a free transfer

Leonardo insists that a club will ‘always recover’ from losing a player, even if it takes time

Mbappe’s representatives were not immediately available for comment.

In January, Mbappe had said he had reached an agreement with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi that would “protect all parties and maintain the calm of the club for the challenges ahead.”