Kylian Mbappé’s trip to Sweden was supposed to remain secret, but now it’s making waves. Allegations of rape suddenly surface. What is known so far.
He moved to his dream club Real Madrid in the summer to make sporting headlines. Kylian Mbappé is miles away from that these days. Things haven’t been going well for him in Madrid so far, he was out injured for the French national team’s last two games and now reports from Stockholm, where Mbappé traveled for two days last week, are causing a stir: Swedish media are reporting that The public prosecutor’s office is investigating the superstar over rape allegations.
A good two weeks ago, Mbappé’s cancellation of the two Nations League games of the “Équipe Tricolore” against Israel and Belgium caused astonishment. Team captain Mbappé signed out of national coach Didier Deschamps because he didn’t feel fit due to a foot injury. In the last game before the international break, he suddenly found himself in the starting line-up for his club Real Madrid, playing 71 minutes against Villarreal (2-0).
Shortly afterwards it became known that Mbappé had taken a two-day trip to Sweden by private jet while he was supposed to be with the national team. Apparently this was supposed to remain secret. However, reporters spotted Mbappé walking through the streets of Stockholm.
He stayed there from Wednesday to Friday (October 9th to 11th) to “recharge his batteries,” as it was said. Several of the goalscorer’s friends were there. One of them: Nordi Mukiele, his former teammate at Paris St. Germain and now at Bayer Leverkusen. According to the French newspaper “Le Parisien”, he is said to have encouraged Mbappé to go on the trip.
In the Swedish capital, Mbappé and his friends first visited a restaurant and then the “V” nightclub. A private party is said to have taken place there in a separate room where he celebrated with 30 guests, most of whom were women. This is what the Swedish daily newspaper “Expressen” reports. The party guests were said to have been asked to put their cell phones in envelopes. Photos and video recordings were probably undesirable.
The alleged rape, which is said to have occurred on October 10th, is said to have taken place in the “Bank” hotel, where Mbappé was also staying.
The fact is: The Swedish public prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday that it had initiated an investigation into a rape case. As usual in Sweden, without naming names. However, Swedish media claim that Mbappé is at the center of the investigation. The police confiscated items of clothing as evidence as part of the investigation.
There is “reasonable suspicion” against Mbappé – the lowest level of suspicion in the Swedish legal system. A particularly strict rape law has been in effect in Sweden since July 2018. Accordingly, you must obtain the express consent of the other person before sex. Anyone who doesn’t do this is committing a criminal offense.
The 25-year-old Mbappé, the biggest brand in world football after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, defends himself against the allegations. At X he wrote: “This is FAKE NEWS. It is so obvious. Just before the hearing, hardly a coincidence.” What he means: The Real star is expecting the arbitration award from the league judiciary on Tuesday on his lawsuit against his former club PSG, from which he is still demanding 55 million euros in outstanding salaries.
Mbappé will not comment further publicly or substantively about his short trip to Sweden, which raises many questions. His lawyer Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard announced this on Thursday: “He reserves his explanations for the Swedish judiciary if necessary.” She also “strongly rejected media claims” that Mbappé had commented on the course of his trip to Stockholm.