Barcelona president claims Kylian Mbappe has been ‘kidnapped for money’

'Players end up being kidnapped for money'

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has criticised Paris Saint-Germain for 'distorting the market' with Kylian Mbappe's new contract at Le Parc des Princes. The Frenchman was expected to sign for the Catalan giants' rivals Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer, but he made a dramatic U-turn and decided to renew with PSG on a three-year deal. The Parisians have increased Mbappe's wages to a staggering £650,000-a-week, while he has also pocketed a £126million signing on fee.

Laporta slams PSG for Mbappe deal

When asked about the 23-year-old's pay package, Barca chief Laporta claimed that Mbappe has been 'kidnapped for money' to stay instead of seeking pastures new at Madrid. https://twitter.com/infosfcb/status/1529600182194540544

"This distorts the market," he told L'Esportiu de Catalunya. "Players end up being kidnapped for money.

"These are the effects of a club having a state behind it. This goes against all the principles of the European Union. It is a reflection on the sustainability of football in Europe.

"Then there is the reading that can be done from Barca. There is a direct rival [Real Madrid] who does not come out stronger and we prefer that he [Mbappe] cannot make us squirm when it comes to competing.

"But I'm left with the reflection on the sustainability of football. Because I don't think we should care so much about a rival either. We have to worry about having a competitive team, which is what we are trying to do.

"It has been shown that when we have cared more about ourselves than our rivals, things have gone well."

Tebas and Labrune trade blows

It comes after Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga, described the striker's new deal as an 'insult to football'. The league also threatened to file a complaint against PSG to UEFA, the French financial authorities and the European Union. However, Vincent Labrune, the chairman of the French league, hit back with his own statement, reminding LaLiga that Madrid and Barcelona spend significant sums on transfer fees on players and have 'benefitted from illegal state aid'.

Related links:

• Ligue 1 chairman slams LaLiga president for complaining over Kylian Mbappe’s new PSG contract
• Luka Modric takes aim at Kylian Mbappe in contract renewal talks
• Kylian Mbappe opens door to sensational Real Madrid move, days after PSG deal