PSG 'REFUSE to pay Kylian Mbappe his salary in April, May and bonus for February'... as president Nasser al-Khelaifi looks to 'save face' by withholding £70m from their ex-striker after his free transfer to Real Madrid

PSG have reportedly withheld payments to Kylian Mbappe to the tune of €80million (£70m) in the wake of his free transfer to Real Madrid. 

The French superstar was confirmed as the European champions' newest 'Galactico' on Monday, ending a transfer saga that rumbled on for years. He joins the side on a five-year deal.

Mbappe looked to set to move to the Bernabeu in 2022 before he sensationally made a late U-turn and penned a new deal with the French giants until 2024, with the option of an extra year to 2025 that only he could activate. 

Last summer, however, he made it clear he would not be triggering a one-year extension, before announcing that he would be leaving at the end of the season on a free.

Reports abounded of the fury his decision sparked at the Parisian club and especially in president, Nasser al-Khelaifi. According to L'Equipe, the loss of their star player for nothing has prompted the withholding of large payments in order for the PSG boss not to 'lose face in this matter'. 

The outlet report that PSG refused to pay the 25-year-old his salary in April and May as well as his bonus in February. This has allowed the side to recover around £70m - the amount promised to the France captain as a loyalty bonus when he signed his 2022 extension. 

In November, French outlet RMC Sport reported that Mbappe - who was exiled from PSG's squad last summer after he informed the club he would not be utilising his extension - was only allowed to return if he agreed to forego bonuses that he was owed.

The report claimed PSG had originally insisted the only way he could rejoin Luis Enrique's first team was if he signed a new deal, something the forward refused to do.

He was subsequently left out of the club's pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea and forced to train with a group that become known as the 'undesirables' - players who PSG were trying to force out. 

Mbappe was then reintegrated after missing the first game of the season against Lorient.

L'Equipe's recent report has backed up those claims but states that the dispute was only partially finalised. 

The club's all-time top scorer saw his game time dramatically reduce after he informed the PSG president of his decision to leave at the end of the campaign. 

Mbappe was reportedly paid in 2023 loyalty bonus in February before seeing other monies owed to him withheld by the club. 

The report indicates that, following the decision not to pay Mbappe for his services in April and May, he is likely to also see his June salary denied - the last in which he is contracted to the club. 

The matter is likely to result in legal wrangling should neither party come to an agreement. 

Mbappe is currently with the France squad preparing for Euro 2024 and will formally link up with Real after his involvement in the tournament ends.

The forward addressed the news as he spoke to the media at press conference in Metz on Tuesday.

'It's a huge pleasure, a dream come true,' Mbappe said of a 'very emotional moment'.

'I'm very happy, liberated, and relieved and very proud to go to this big club - the best in the world,' he added.

Asked about a period when he was sent to train with the reserves after refusing to renew his contract, Mbappe said: 'They made me understand that I wouldn't play for PSG, [and] at the club they told me violently to my face.

'Without [head coach] Luis Enrique and [Football Advisor] Luis Campos I wouldn't have set foot on the pitch. They saved me. That's the truth.'

'There's a lot of pressure, but it's just football and there are more serious things in life. I've always had this education of not coming to cry,' Mbappe said.

'I get paid handsomely to play football and do what I am passionate about, while some get up to go to a factory and do backbreaking work.

'I keep saying that what I went through I wouldn't wish on anyone, so I find it inappropriate to come and complain when I see what's going on. There are much worse things in the world.'

'It's a big relief, I'm very happy, I think you can see it in my face. I played a lot less at the end of the season and everyone knows why. It's like that - you have to adapt when you're a high-level player.'