€55m Legal Dispute Looms
Kylian Mbappé will face his former team, PSG, for the first time in tonight’s Club World Cup semi-final. Having joined PSG initially on loan before the club made a permanent investment of €120 million in 2018, Mbappé enjoyed a successful seven-year tenure in his hometown, securing six league titles and earning Ligue 1 Player of the Year five times. However, he was unable to help PSG clinch the elusive Champions League title—the club achieved this goal in the very season following his departure.
Mbappé’s transition to Real Madrid was one of the longest transfer sagas in football history, and he finally made the move to the Santiago Bernabeu last summer. His exit from PSG was marred by controversy, leading to a lawsuit against his former club for harassment. Although reports suggest he has withdrawn this legal complaint ahead of the Club World Cup encounter, he is still pursuing €55 million in unpaid wages. Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s last season ended disappointingly as they lost their Champions League title and saw Barcelona dominate La Liga. Nonetheless, Mbappé’s individual performance was remarkable, as he broke the record for the most goals scored in his debut season at Real Madrid. His attacking contributions have been analyzed as he gets ready to compete against his former club.
Kylian Mbappe: Real Madrid vs. PSG Records
It remains uncertain if Mbappé will start against PSG, as Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso grapples with selection challenges. Following his hospitalization due to gastroenteritis upon the team’s arrival in the United States, Mbappé lost over 6 kg in weight. Consequently, Alonso has opted to ease him back into the lineup, with Gonzalo performing well alongside Vinicius Jr in the attack. Regardless of when he enters the match, Mbappé is eager to make his mark against his old team. Over his seven years in Paris, he achieved superstar status, netting 256 goals and providing 110 assists in 308 appearances. As depicted in the graphic below, he scored at an astonishing rate of 0.93 goals per 90 minutes, while his assist rate stood at 0.4.
Overall, Mbappé recorded an impressive 1.33 goal contributions per 90 minutes, reflecting his extraordinary offensive output during his time at PSG. Since joining Madrid, his attacking numbers have experienced a slight decline, with 0.95 goal contributions per 90 minutes. While he frequently played across the front line in Paris, often drifting in from the left, he has primarily taken on the role of central striker at Madrid, with Vinicius typically occupying the left wing last season. This shift in positioning has impacted Mbappé’s game, particularly his assists, which have significantly dropped as he has been tasked with staying central and posing a direct goal-scoring threat. Nevertheless, his scoring rate at Madrid remains impressive, further emphasizing the competitive nature of La Liga compared to Ligue 1.
