French national team captain Kylian Mbappé has formally withdrawn his complaint of moral harassment against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, just days before a highly anticipated reunion in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup. The update was confirmed to AFP on Monday by his lawyer, Pierre-Olivier Sur, following a report by L’Équipe.

“As Real Madrid prepares to face PSG on Wednesday in the Club World Cup semi-final in the United States, we are withdrawing our civil action,” Sur stated.

Mbappé had originally filed a complaint on May 16, accusing PSG of “moral harassment” and “attempted extortion of signature” related to the club’s use of “lofting”—a controversial practice in football where players are excluded from first-team activities as a form of pressure. In this case, Mbappé was placed in the “loft” during the summer of 2023 after refusing to sign a contract extension.

Following the complaint, the Paris public prosecutor’s office opened a judicial investigation on June 24. Two investigating judges were assigned to the case. While the formal investigation remains open, the player’s decision to withdraw may prompt a reassessment by the judicial authorities.

The legal dispute between Mbappé and PSG extends beyond the criminal complaint. The 26-year-old forward, who left PSG on a free transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, is also demanding €55 million in unpaid wages and bonuses. According to sources close to the player, no agreement was in place with the club regarding those payments. PSG has dismissed the claim as a “fantastic story.”

In April, Mbappé obtained a precautionary court order to freeze the €55 million in PSG’s accounts.

However, that decision was overturned on May 26. Despite this, a source close to the matter says the funds remain seized pending an appeal hearing, for which a date has not yet been set.

Mbappé, who is expected to feature for Real Madrid against his former club on Wednesday, spent seven years at PSG, where he became their all-time top scorer before his contentious departure.

The semi-final match in New Jersey will mark the first time he faces PSG since leaving, adding further intrigue to an already dramatic storyline.

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Kylian Mbappé is set to face his former club, Paris Saint-Germain for the first time since his controversial departure, as Real Madrid prepare for a high-stakes Club World Cup semi-final clash on July 9 in New Jersey.

The blockbuster encounter pits Mbappé against the club where he became a legend—scoring 256 goals in 308 appearances over seven seasons—before leaving on a free transfer to fulfil a childhood dream of playing for Real Madrid.

While Mbappé’s on-field legacy at PSG is undeniable, his exit in 2024 was marred by tension. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was reportedly furious that the French superstar allowed his contract to expire, denying the club a transfer fee. The fallout has since escalated into a legal dispute, with Mbappé claiming he is owed €55 million in unpaid wages and bonuses.

Only last month, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed an investigation into allegations of “moral harassment” after Mbappé accused PSG of ostracising him during the summer of 2023. He was excluded from the club’s pre-season tour and trained separately after refusing to sign a contract extension. However, he later dropped the complaint, according to one of his lawyers.

Despite the off-field drama, the 26-year-old France captain has thrived in his debut season at Madrid, scoring 43 goals in 56 matches across all competitions. His performances have been central to Xabi Alonso’s bright start as Real Madrid manager.

Mbappé’s Club World Cup campaign, however, got off to a slow start. A stomach bug kept him out of the group stage, during which young forward Gonzalo García stepped up impressively with four goals in five matches, including the opener in a 3-2 quarter-final win over Borussia Dortmund.

But Mbappé announced his arrival in style, coming off the bench in that match to score a stunning overhead kick that proved to be the winner in stoppage time.

“He is still not at 100 percent, but he is getting better every day,” Alonso said after the match. “Now he has three days to keep progressing before the semi-final.”

The semi-final also marks a tactical test for Alonso, who has shown flexibility by switching between back-four and three-man defence systems throughout the tournament. His next move could hinge on PSG’s strengths—particularly as the French champions arrive in top form.

PSG, under Luis Enrique, are brimming with confidence after a dominant 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final and a gritty 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup quarter-finals, despite finishing that match with nine men following red cards to Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez.

For Enrique, the semi-final carries personal significance. The former Spanish international spent five years as a Real Madrid player in the 1990s before joining rivals Barcelona. Yet, he remained focused on the task at hand: “It doesn’t matter who we play in the semi-finals. What matters is that we’re here and determined to reach the final.”

For Mbappé, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown against his former club—his first time facing PSG since his days as a teenage sensation at AS Monaco in 2017. All eyes will be on MetLife Stadium as one of football’s biggest storylines unfolds.

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Chelsea’s youthful side are set for an emotional reunion with club legend Thiago Silva as they take on Brazil’s Fluminense in the semi-finals of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup this Tuesday in New Jersey.

Silva, now 40, will captain a seasoned Fluminense side against the club where he enjoyed a distinguished four-year stint from 2020 to 2024. Despite his age, the veteran centre-back remains a commanding presence and has led the Brazilian outfit on a fairytale run in the tournament.

The semifinal clash is particularly poignant for several Chelsea players who came through the ranks during Silva’s time at Stamford Bridge. Spanish defender Marc Cucurella, who played alongside Silva for two seasons, revealed they had exchanged messages ahead of the meeting.

“He’s a legend of football, a top player,” Cucurella told English media. “We have the opportunity to play against him again and hopefully we can do good things, win this game, and reach the final.”

Silva returned to Fluminense in 2024 after leaving Chelsea, rejoining the club where he first made his name by helping them to the 2008 Copa Libertadores final. Under coach Renato Gaúcho—now in his sixth stint at the helm—Fluminense won the 2023 Copa Libertadores and have impressed in the Club World Cup.

They drew with Borussia Dortmund in the group stage, knocked out Inter Milan in the round of 16, and edged Saudi giants Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals. Speaking after that win, Silva reflected on the team’s underdog spirit.

“If you had asked me beforehand if we would get this far, I would have said no,” he told broadcaster DAZN. “The financial disparity is enormous. But our collective spirit and family-like atmosphere give us strength beyond expectations.”

Fluminense boast an experienced core beyond Silva, including 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio, 35-year-old wing-back Samuel Xavier, and 37-year-old striker Germán Cano.

Despite their age, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is not underestimating the Brazilians. “They are very well-organised with some very good players. The manager is doing a fantastic job,” Maresca said. “Brazilian teams bring high energy to this tournament—perhaps because they’re at the start of their season, while we’ve just concluded ours.”

Maresca’s Chelsea, fresh off a fourth-place Premier League finish and a UEFA Europa Conference League triumph, are among the youngest squads in the tournament. Their starting eleven in the 1-0 quarterfinal win over Palmeiras had an average age of just 24.

The Italian coach has continued injecting youth into his side. Brazilian forward João Pedro, 23, formerly of Fluminense, made his Chelsea debut in that match. Meanwhile, teenage sensation Estevão Willian (18) is set to join from Palmeiras next season, and winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (20) has arrived from Borussia Dortmund.

Victory over Fluminense would book Chelsea a place in the final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain—a fitting stage for the next generation of Blues talent to make their mark, against the backdrop of a reunion with one of the club’s greats.

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