The soap opera for this summer of 2023 has a name: Kylian Mbappé. At the end of the contract in June 2024 with Paris Saint-Germain, the French striker (70 caps, 40 goals), coveted by Real Madrid and several European leaders, still refuses to extend his lease. A situation that pushes the club of the capital to be firm. Result ? The Bondynois has simply been excluded from the tour in Asia and the upper echelons of Paris are sticking to their position: either the 2018 world champion extends in the coming days, or he will be sold. An ultimatum which does not seem, however, to frighten the former Monegasque, threatened to stay in the stands all season. A situation comparable to other clashes experienced in the past between players and clubs…
Florian Thauvin, from LOSC to OM in one summer!
In this perspective and still in France, it is worth recalling the Florian Thauvin case. Today under the colors of Udinese, the tricolor international (10 caps, 1 goal) had thus engaged in a huge showdown with the northern management to force his departure from the Olympique de Marseille side. Transferred to Lille in June 2013, the 30-year-old right winger did not hesitate to skip training, despite the intransigent position of Michel Seydoux, president of the Dogues at the time. “He makes a choice, which seems sad to us. If he doesn’t want to play football anymore, we’re not going to force him, we’re going to wait. But since he does not work, he is not paid., regretted for his part Frédéric Paquet, sports director of LOSC. After several weeks and many twists and turns, Thauvin finally joined La Canebière on September 2, 2013, for 12 million euros.
All over Europe, these player/club conflicts have broken out over the seasons. The latest and certainly the most striking after KM7 is none other than that concerning Cristiano Ronaldo. Under contract with Manchester United, the five-time Ballon d’Or left in a huge clash with the Red Devils. Cold with Erik ten Hag, the Portuguese refused to sit on the Mancunians’ bench against Tottenham before being sidelined against Chelsea. In the process, the former Real Madrid striker gave an exclusive and explosive interview to Piers Morgan. The opportunity for him to settle his accounts before leaving Old Trafford and joining Al-Nassr last January. A boiling situation regularly observed in recent seasons in Her Majesty’s Kingdom.
Clash, an English specialty!
Recently, Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic made it known that he would never want to play in the Cottagers jersey again. It is now under the colors of Al-Hilal, resident of the Saudi Pro League, that the 28-year-old Serb will continue his career. Still on the side of Fulham, Clint Dempsey (40) had also refused, in 2012, to play a Premier League match. Despite his firm intention to join Liverpool, the American striker was finally transferred to Tottenham. Now retired, Dimitar Berbatov, also in the colors of Fulham, did not hesitate to go to the clash to force his departure from Spurs in 2008. If Daniel Levy, known for his firmness, sanctioned the Bulgarian with a fine, Sir Alex Ferguson, then Manchester United coach, finally won his case and offered the former Monegasque in the last hours of the summer transfer window. Like Kylian Mbappé, Carlos Tevez had also experienced a big controversy.
At the heart of various transfer rumours, the 39-year-old Argentinian had also gone to clash with the management of Manchester City. Refusing to come into play against Bayern Munich, the former Skyblues striker had been snubbed by Roberto Mancini. Suspended for several weeks, the native of Ciudadela had finally apologized to the Mancunian fans before actively participating in the title gleaned by the Citizens in the Premier League. In line with this episode, Raheem Sterling (28) also stood out. Ready to do anything to join City, the center forward of the Three Lions had notably rejected several extension offers from Liverpool. Faced with the intransigent position of the Reds, the 28-year-old Englishman did not hesitate to miss the pre-season camp to force his departure. In July 2015, the kid from Kingston was finally transferred to the Etihad Stadium against a check for more than 60 million euros. In addition to these stormy episodes mentioned above, many other stars stirred the world press.
From Marcos Rojo, refusing to train at Sporting to sign for Manchester United, to Riyad Mahrez, ready to do anything to leave Leicester and join Manchester City, passing through Ousmane Dembélé, eager to join Catalonia after his experience at Borussia Dortmund, Dimitri Payet, left to clash with Slaven Bilic and West Ham to afford a return to OM, or even Thibaut Courtois, absent from the resumption of Chelsea training in 2018 with the idea of joining the Merengue, the conflicts players / clubs ultimately remain commonplace on the football planet. It is also an opportunity to recall the memorable pressure from William Gallas in 2006. Dissatisfied with his situation with the Blues, the French central defender (84 caps, 5 goals) then promised hell to his management… “You’re going to put me on the pitch, okay, but if the heart isn’t there and I’m not focused, I risk making mistakes, mistakes I’m not used to making. It would then be possible to let in a goal and lose a game stupidly. That’s what I said, word for word.”, admitted the interested party. What definitely convince the residents of Stamford Bridge to drop the case. Transferred to Arsenal in the process, the 1998 world champion is now a spectator of a new clash: that between PSG and his compatriot Kylian Mbappé. It remains to know the outcome…
