Real Madrid have expressed support for Kylian Mbappé amid rape allegations, dismissing any suggestions that they are distancing themselves from the French star.
The allegations surfaced after an incident in Sweden at a hotel where Mbappé was staying. Mbappé was noticeably absent from the club’s promotional “Artist Pack” image, sparking speculation that his omission was linked to the accusations.
However, sources close to Real Madrid have clarified that the decision was unrelated to the allegations, which they believe are false and intended to tarnish his reputation.
According to reports from Sweden’s Aftonbladet, the police were investigating a rape incident at the Bank Hotel in Stockholm, with the French star initially being named by Swedish outlet Expressen.
The 25-year-old has strongly denied the allegations, calling them fake news and suggesting that they were strategically timed ahead of his upcoming hearing with PSG over unpaid wages.
Later updates to the report cleared Mbappé, confirming he was not under investigation by the Swedish authorities.
Despite this, speculation continued when fans noticed that Mbappé was missing from a promotional image shared by Real Madrid, even though Jude Bellingham had posted an unedited version that included him.
Sources from the club have since dismissed the idea that his exclusion was related to the allegations. While some believe that Nike, Mbappé’s sponsor, requested the omission due to Real Madrid’s association with Adidas, this remains unconfirmed. Interestingly, Eduardo Camavinga, also sponsored by Nike, appeared in the promotional image.
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