Mbappé has major goals with Real Madrid—Club World Cup glory, a first Ballon d’Or—and doesn’t want the distraction of a high-profile court case. Real’s leadership, including Florentino Pérez, dislikes legal controversies, especially one involving Qatar, PSG’s owner. Staying clear of scandal keeps the focus on the pitch.

Kylian Mbappé will meet his former club, PSG, on Wednesday in the Club World Cup semifinal. It'll be a fascinating reunion for many reasons, not least because of how PSG have grown without him.

Kylian Mbappe will come up against Paris Saint-Germain for the first time since leaving the French club a year ago as Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid