- Kylian Mbappe was linked to an alleged rape back in October by Swedish media
- The Real Madrid superstar has repeatedly strenuously denied any wrongdoing
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Kylian Mbappe has broken his silence on the rape allegations made against him earlier this season after a trip to Sweden during an international break.
Rather than join up with France, an injured Mbappe went to Stockholm for a break from football, deciding to focus on his recovery, though it was a call that seemingly provoked ire in France all the same.
Yet while he was in Stockholm, a rape investigation mentioned the Real Madrid player after an alleged attack took place at the hotel where he was staying over the international break: he strenuously denied any involvement.
He had been linked to the incident by the Swedish media, despite no names being officially connected to the case, with the player and his legal representatives dismissing the allegation as ‘slanderous’.
An investigation was opened into the alleged attack at the Stockholm hotel back in October.
The French captain has continued to deny allegations made against him, and in an interview with Clique on Canal+ he reiterated his surprise at the investigation.
Kylian Mbappe has broken his silence on allegations made against him earlier in the campaign
The French campaign visited Stockholm during the October international break while injured
The alleged attack is reported to have taken place at the Bank Hotel where Mbappe was staying
‘I was surprised. These are things that happen that you don’t see coming. I didn’t receive anything, no summons,’ he said.
‘I read the same thing as everyone else. The Swedish government didn’t say anything. I’m not concerned.
‘It didn’t weigh on me, because I never felt concerned. There’s a lot of noise, but I’ve always had the same intention, which is to concentrate on my job and see how it ends. If justice summons me, I will simply go.
‘It wasn’t even a night out. I had five days off, I decided to leave. I was supposed to go somewhere else, but the coach told me to go somewhere less exposed.
‘It’s going well, I’m relaxed. Before leaving, there’s this photo of me leaving the restaurant. There were lots of people ready to welcome me for the departure, lots of journalists…’
He added: ‘When I got on the plane, I received the news. I have no idea who [the complainant] is.’
His lawyer at the time hit back at the allegations, and insisted that her client was ‘flabbergasted’ and denied with ‘certainty’ any wrongdoing.
‘We’re talking about a complaint being lodged, and at this time we don’t know against whom,’ said Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, speaking on French TV’s TF1. ‘A complaint doesn’t reveal anything.
Mbappe has strenuously denied any wrongdoing and added that he is ‘surprised’ by allegations
‘Mbappe is never alone. He is never alone, so he would be exposed to a situation where he would be taking a risk. That totally rules out any wrongdoing. It’s an absolute certainty.
‘He’s particularly serene, but he’s flabbergasted by all the media hype. He has no idea what he’s being accused of. If there is an investigation, he will submit to Swedish justice. But he is calm because he has nothing to reproach himself for.’
The player had struggled for form after a strong start in Madrid, missing two penalties in defeats by Liverpool and Athletic Club, but looks to be turning a corner under Carlo Ancelotti with three goals in his last four LaLiga outings.
Mbappe has not been called up to the French side since focusing on his recovery back in October, though Didier Deschamps has claimed that his most recent snub is a ‘one-off’.
This time round, however, he is believed to have told Deschamps he was keen to join up, only to be left out in the cold in a huge shock.
‘I had a couple of talks with Mbappe, and I took the decision to leave him out this time,’ said the Les Bleus head coach.
‘What I can tell you are these two things: One, that Kylian wanted to come. And two, it’s not the extra sporting problems that come into play since the presumption of innocence exists and must exist. It’s a one-off choice for this gathering.’
He added: ‘We may not agree on everything. These are discussions that I can have with the players. I am not here for the players to tell me that I am the most beautiful and the best. I listen. I have always fed off these discussions, whether individual or collective, protecting all the players.’
‘That’s why I can have a lot of discussions that can go beyond the purely field sphere, because they know very well that we know who spoke if something comes out.
‘These exchanges are important to me. With hindsight, tranquility, as much lucidity as possible, I make the decisions that seem to me to be the best.’