Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappe’s contract extension has created a lot of controversy and criticism. When it comes to criticism, representatives of LaLiga have been at the top of the list. Along with the league representatives, managers and presidents of clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Villarreal have also commented on the situation.
In response to this, Ligue 1 chairman Vincent Labrune has hit back at the Spanish top flight. He said: “In terms of debt, Barcelona is reported to have a debt level of €1.5billion, and this is despite the European Court of Justice finding that Real Madrid and Barcelona benefited from legal state aid.
“The fact that you publicly and repeatedly take this position against Ligue 1 on this topic and denigrate our league and our clubs is both unacceptable and manifestly false.
“It is also not lost on anyone that the pinnacle of competitive imbalance was the recent breakaway European Super League – founded and still maintained by your two clubs.
“When Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and others left your league – by choice – last year, rather than acknowledging their greatest (which you had weeks prior to their departure) you commented on their age and brandished our league as being ‘like the league of legends given the age of the players’.
“Now your disrespectful smears seem to be directed towards Kylian Mbappe who is widely acknowledged to be one of the world’s greatest players and simply didn’t join your league, by choice, despite having received a similar offer. Unlike you, Ligue 1 lauds and promotes players both in our league and across Europe – including those in your league.”
