Real Madrid fans came out in support of star striker Kylian Mbappe on Thursday as he faces media scrutiny over a rape investigation in Sweden. Swedish prosecutors confirmed on Tuesday that an investigation was launched following an alleged rape incident at a luxury hotel in Stockholm on October 10, although they did not name Mbappe directly.
Media reports in Sweden indicated that the French international was being investigated in connection with the case, which he and his lawyer have denied.
Juan Castro, a 72-year-old Real Madrid supporter, dismissed the reports as “fake news,” emphasizing that they “make no sense.” He expressed confidence in Mbappe’s character, stating, “He’s a pretty intelligent person who has lots of ability; he isn’t going to make a mistake as stupid as this.”
Another fan, Marcelino Alvarez, linked the rumors to Mbappe’s ongoing dispute with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Mbappe has claimed that the French giants owe him €55 million ($60 million) in unpaid wages and suggested that the media reports were timed with a recent hearing in the case. Alvarez commented, “This was an opportunity to attack Mbappe. All this comes from PSG, from filth… Hoaxes must be proven.”
Jorge Costa Laberia, a 58-year-old former fisherman, added, “All this is a set-up because Kylian Mbappe is very famous.” Meanwhile, Yssouf Soumahoro, a 42-year-old civil administrator visiting from the Ivory Coast, acknowledged the surprising nature of the news but urged caution as the legal process unfolds.