Players’ union set to intervene in Kylian Mbappé-PSG saga

In the wake of Kylian Mbappé’s (24) omission from Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for the tour of Japan and South Korea, the UNFP, the union for professional players in France, is set to intervene in the coming hours, according to RMC Sport. 

Mbappé was a shock omission from the squad for the upcoming tour, and the decision marks the latest twist in an ongoing saga. At the beginning of the summer, the Franc captain addressed a letter to the hierarchy of the club, affirming that he wouldn’t be triggering the one-year extension in his contract. PSG were then faced with a decision: sell him this summer, or risk losing him on a free at the end of the 2023/24 season. 

Convinced that Mbappé has an agreement in place to join Real Madrid in 2024, he has now been omitted from the travelling squad. PSG had given the player an ultimatum of triggering the extension by the end of July or risk being sold. 

According to RMC Sport, the UNFP are now set to intervene in the saga. A press release is expected in the coming hours, which will provide a reminder that article 507 of the professional football charter must be respected. The article states that clubs must give their players under contract the means to train to allow them to reach or maintain a sufficient physical level to allow them to compete at a professional level. 

Whilst players are allowed to “loft” players, from 1st July until 31st August, taking them out of the first-team training sessions whilst awaiting a departure from the club, those players must then be reintegrated after this two-month period. Failing that, they must create a second training group, composed of at least 10 players. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle