In a perfect scenario, the 25-year-old ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward would have been able to concentrate entirely on adjusting to life in Madrid after his summer move to the Spanish capital on a five-year contract.
Instead of focusing on his career, Mbappe has been plagued by fitness issues and is entangled in a bitter financial dispute with his former club. Additionally, reports from Sweden suggest he is now a suspect in a rape investigation.
Mbappe has dismissed those reports as “fake news” and is hoping to win his battle with PSG over what he claims amounts to 55 million euros ($60m) in unpaid wages and bonuses from last season.
However, the negative headlines tarnish the player’s image and diminish the aura surrounding a young man who has become a national icon and a global sports superstar.
When Mbappe burst onto the scene as a teenager at Monaco nearly a decade ago, he stood out not only for his exceptional talent but also for his impressive communication skills.
Instead of being intimidated by the media attention, Mbappe appeared comfortable in front of the cameras, speaking with the maturity and confidence of someone much older.
At 19, he won the World Cup and went on to become PSG’s all-time top scorer, representing the local club of the boy from Bondy in the Paris suburbs.
Committed Captain?
In March 2023, just months after scoring a remarkable hat-trick in France’s World Cup final loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina, he was appointed captain of the national team by coach Didier Deschamps.
Given his prominence in both the team and the country, his appointment as captain seemed a natural choice. However, his role as skipper made the decision to rest him for France’s UEFA Nations League matches this month a controversial one.
Mbappe suffered a thigh injury in late September. Although it was a minor issue, it indicated that resting him would be advantageous in the long term.
“We need to put the player’s interests first without putting him into difficulty,” Deschamps said, referring to Mbappe’s relationship with his new club.
While France’s sports media debated whether Mbappe’s temporary absence from the squad was justified or reflected a lack of commitment to the national team, the player himself took a short break in Stockholm with members of his entourage.
Swedish newspapers Aftonbladet and Expressen, along with public broadcaster SVT, have reported that he is under investigation for rape following an alleged incident at a hotel on October 10.
A Swedish prosecutor confirmed on Tuesday that a rape investigation had been launched but did not disclose Mbappe’s name.
Changing Attitudes
Meanwhile, Mbappe, whose career is overseen by his mother, Fayza Lamari, has brought his financial dispute with PSG before a French league committee.
He is seeking to recover 55 million euros, which includes several months of unpaid wages and a signing bonus. PSG asserts that he agreed to forgo this amount if he left for free at the end of last season.
Mbappe hinted on Monday that there might be a connection between the rape report and his dispute with his former team, where he spent seven years.
“It’s becoming so predictable, on the eve of the hearing, as if by chance,” he wrote on X on Monday.
His troubled split from PSG, which saw him excluded from the team multiple times in the second half of last season after announcing his desire to leave, likely played a role in his underwhelming European Championship performance with France.
Mbappe sustained a broken nose in France’s opening match at Euro 2024 in June. He only managed to score one goal—a penalty, in a group-stage draw with Poland before Les Bleus were eliminated in the semi-finals.
He appeared a bit off his best physical condition and is taking his time to adjust in Madrid, despite scoring seven goals in his first 11 appearances.
A recent incident seemed to reflect the shift in attitude towards Mbappe in his home country, as he was loudly booed by Lille fans when he was brought on as a substitute for Real in a Champions League match earlier this month.
While such a reception for an opposing player may not be uncommon, it stood in stark contrast to the widespread praise he received across France following the last World Cup.
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