MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Friday the club’s French striker Kylian Mbappe “seems unaffected to me” after Swedish media reported he is being investigated for an alleged rape during a visit to Stockholm.
Mbappe’s lawyer said this week the France captain was “shocked” to see his name linked to the investigation and he will take action for libel.
The forward was not selected by France for UEFA Nations League matches after an injury and visited the Swedish capital with a group of people last week.
“In this moment (the reports) are speculations, I see him working every day, he is happy, content, he doesn’t seem affected to me at all,” Ancelotti told a news conference.
“He’s looking forward to keep on helping the team.”
Ancelotti said Mbappe, 25, had been given time off by the Spanish and European champions.
“The days off were set for him and beyond that, individuals can choose what they want to do,” explained Ancelotti.
“I don’t care where players prefer to rest. I went to London for a couple of days and didn’t ask anybody.
“I also don’t have a travel agency to organize trips for players.”
A Swedish prosecutor has confirmed that an investigation has been opened, without naming Mbappe.
Mbappe claimed in a post on X on Monday there was a link between the report and a hearing before a French league committee on Tuesday over his bitter dispute with his former club Paris Saint-Germain over what he says is 55 million euros ($60 million) in unpaid wages.
“FAKE NEWS !!!!. It’s becoming so predictable, on the eve of the hearing, as if by chance,” he wrote.
Mbappe completed a dream move to join Madrid in the summer after seven years at PSG.
The striker scored five goals in his first seven La Liga appearances before suffering a thigh injury.
Mbappe made a quicker-than-expected recovery but France did not select him for their games against Belgium and Israel, earning the forward criticism in his homeland.
Madrid, three points behind leaders Barcelona, visit Celta Vigo on Saturday with Mbappe expected to start for Los Blancos.
Ancelotti said the superstar attacker looks a “different player” after doing some fitness work during the international break.
“Mbappe took advantage of this break to improve his condition, recover from injuries... he’s doing very well, happy and looking forward to playing tomorrow,” continued Ancelotti.
“This fortnight has helped him a lot — he’s a different player than he was from before the break.”
Mbappe ‘seems unaffected’ by rape investigation reports: Real Madrid coach Ancelotti
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Mbappe ‘seems unaffected’ by rape investigation reports: Real Madrid coach Ancelotti
- Mbappe’s lawyer said this week the France captain was “shocked” to see his name linked to the investigation
- A Swedish prosecutor has confirmed that an investigation has been opened, without naming Mbappe
Liverpool’s Wirtz will score many more after Wolves winner, says Slot
- Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz in June for a reported fee of £100 million, with a further £16 million in potential bonuses
- The 22-year-old had failed to find the net in more than 20 appearances for Liverpool before scoring the winner in Saturday’s match
Florian Wirtz is beginning to find his feet at Liverpool and will keep getting better, manager Arne Slot said after the German midfielder scored his first goal for the Premier League champions in their 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Liverpool signed Wirtz in June for a reported fee of 100 million pounds ($135 million), with a further 16 million pounds in potential bonuses.
The 22-year-old had failed to find the net in more than 20 appearances for Liverpool before scoring the winner in Saturday’s match, and Slot said his performances had been undervalued due to football’s obsession with statistics.
“I’m quite sure it was a relief for him. This I could see after his reaction after he scored the goal – and the same I saw with his teammates. I think they were really happy for him,” Slot told reporters.
“In football – rightly so, maybe – we mainly get judged on results, and individuals mainly get judged on goals and assists. Sometimes we tend to forget what else there is to do during a game.”
The Dutch manager called on Wirtz to keep going after ending his drought.
“He’s had multiple good games for us but I also feel he gets better and better every single game he is playing for us. He gets fitter and fitter and was getting closer and closer to his first goal,” he added.
“Then it was not a surprise to me that he scored one today, but he would probably be the first one to understand that one goal is not enough.
“He will score many more goals for us than only this one, but I also liked his performance during large parts of the game today. I think he was special in a lot of moments.”
Liverpool, fourth in the standings, next host 16th-placed Leeds United in a league match on January 1.
