Mbappe's sponsorship revolt and how it affects PSG and Madrid
Robin Bairner
- 24 Mar 2022 16:17 GMT
- 3 min read
Kylian Mbappe continues to make football transfer headlines even when away on international duty, with the Paris Saint-Germain star refusing to take part in commercial activities with the France national team.
Mbappe is reportedly concerned about the ethical implications that his participation in such pursuits may have, despite having signed a contract in 2017 that compels him to do so in return for a fee of €25,000 per game.
This is an unprecedented step for a France player and one that appears to have caught the French FA flat-footed, despite it having been an issue that has simmered for a prolonged period.
Latest news
A statement published on Wednesday by Mbappe’s representatives claimed that the striker’s present stance is “by no means a rebellion” and that he has tried for three years to renegotiate the position.
This is in many ways a sideshow to the issue of the player’s future, with his PSG contract up at the end of June. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are ready to pounce for the forward when he becomes a free agent, although the Ligue 1 champions have not given up on him re-signing.
Image rights could be key in Mbappe's future
The issue of image rights could be a crucial one, as Mbappe has demonstrated with his France stance that it is not something he treats lightly.
RMC reported that he is presently in talks with PSG over renegotiating his position with the club’s sponsors – just three months from the end of his deal at Parc des Princes.
Unlike the French FA, who have thus far been unmoving in their stance, PSG are believed to be more open to discussions and could even give Mbappe a good deal more control of his image rights should he sign a new deal with the club.
Indeed, this is seen as a potentially key negotiating point that will allow Mbappe to remain with PSG and potentially delay a move to Real Madrid by a year or more.
