BARCELONA (AP) — Kylian Mbappé will be in the public eye again on Saturday, when Real Madrid returns to activity after a turbulent week in which Swedish media reported that the captain of the France team was the subject of an investigation for an alleged rape after a visit to Stockholm.
Mbappé’s legal team has considered this information false.
On Wednesday, after training with his Madrid teammates, Mbappé posted a video in which he is seen scoring a goal in practice with the message: “We continue working. Hala Madrid!”
Mbappé, 25, is expected to be available for Madrid on Saturday when they visit Celta Vigo in La Liga.
Mbappé faces the first potential crisis of his brilliant career following reports of an investigation into the alleged rape in the Swedish capital, where he was briefly last week during a period when he was not active with his club or country.
Without citing sources, Swedish media reported that Mbappé was the subject of an investigation. Mbappé’s representatives have called the reports “false and irresponsible.”
Swedish prosecutors said in a brief statement Tuesday that a rape had been reported to police, but did not name any suspects.
Mbappé injured his left thigh at the end of September. But he only missed one game for the Merengue team and returned as a substitute in a surprise 1-0 defeat to Lille in the Champions League, before starting in a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the Spanish La Liga.
However, France coach Didier Deschamps had already left Mbappé out of his team for last week’s FIFA Matchday, before the goalscorer returned to the field with Madrid.
That meant Mbappé did not play for France in the Nations League victories over Israel and Belgium.
Mbappé, a World Cup winner in 2018, joined Madrid in June as a free player after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
Madrid’s match in Vigo will be followed by a difficult stretch: the white team will host Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Barcelona in the national competition, before visiting Valencia in La Liga and hosting Milan in the maximum continental competition.
Madrid is in second place in La Liga, three points behind Barcelona after nine games.
They will be without long-term right back Dani Carvajal, sidelined due to a knee ligament injury, and Vinicius Junior, who missed the Brazil team’s recent matches after a neck injury.
Barcelona hosts Sevilla on Sunday, when third-place Atlético Madrid takes on Leganés.
Barcelona striker Lamine Yamal is doubtful after suffering a muscle strain while with the Spain national team.
