Some social media accounts published two images from Real Madrid's latest photo shoot, sponsored by Adidas. In one of the images, Kylian Mbappé appears, while he is absent in the other.
Users claimed that Mbappé was not featured in the image shared by Real Madrid on its social media accounts after the Swedish Public Prosecution opened an investigation into a possible assault case.
What Is the Story Behind the Image Published by Real Madrid?
Real Madrid posted images promoting the “Artist Pack” collection, a product line that blends art and sports in collaboration with the Real Madrid Foundation and Adidas. The Foundation stated that this initiative aligns with its vision for social and sports projects aimed at supporting vulnerable groups.
The campaign notably featured Real Madrid and England international player Jude Bellingham, alongside former Brazilian player Roberto Carlos.
Meanwhile, Bellingham shared an alternate version of one of the photos on his Instagram account, which included Kylian Mbappé, but he later deleted it. This sparked controversy among users, who linked the removal of the French striker from the advertisement to reports in the Swedish press about an investigation into a case of “rape and sexual assault” in which Mbappé was accused.
RMC Sport reported that Real Madrid edited the photo for contractual reasons, noting that the promotional campaign for the collection was led by Adidas, while Kylian Mbappé has a contract with Nike, which prevents him from appearing in the campaign. However, some users pointed out that Nike also has a contract with French player Eduardo Camavinga, who appears in the official promotional photos.
French journalist Pablo Gallego stated that the issue revolves around the distribution of sponsorship shares between brands, suggesting that Real Madrid's post should feature three players sponsored by Adidas for every one player sponsored by Nike. He referred to the photo from which Mbappé was removed, stating, “Bellingham, Signe Bruun, and Linda Caicedo are sponsored by Adidas, while basketball player Sergio Llull is sponsored by Nike, making the ratio 3 to 1.”
Pictures of the other players were published separately, and they wore shirts that did not display the Adidas logo, in contrast to Mbappé, who was seen wearing a jacket that prominently featured the three stripes of the Adidas logo.
Last March, Forbes reported that Mbappé signed a 10-year contract with Nike in 2019, which guarantees him $15.3 million (14 million euros) per season from the sportswear giant, making him the second-highest-paid football player after Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to Mbappé's official website, Nike has been Kylian Mbappé's official partner since 2006.
Mbappé Accused of Sexual Assault
The Swedish judiciary has opened an investigation into a case of rape and sexual assault after a young woman filed a complaint. The incidents are alleged to have occurred last week on the night from Thursday to Friday at a hotel in central Stockholm, coinciding with Mbappé's time in the Swedish city.
The public prosecutor did not name the Real Madrid player or any other individuals involved in this investigation. However, the Swedish channel SVT and the newspapers Expressen and Aftonbladet reported, citing unnamed sources, that Mbappé, 25, is the suspect in the case.
Mbappé's lawyer told TF1 that she plans to file a defamation complaint to protect Kylian Mbappé's rights in this matter.
Marie Bernard confirmed, “Just filing a complaint does not determine the truth of the incident, and the complaint does not prove anything. I want to emphasize that I don’t even know if the complaint is actually directed at him.” She also explained that her client “was never alone” and denied that he engaged in any shameful conduct.
Mbappé Denies Sexual Assault Allegations
Mbappé described the accusations as “fake news,” highlighting that they emerged just before a hearing at the LFP headquarters in Paris to address his claims for outstanding payments from his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, which took place on Tuesday.
In a post on his X account, Mbappé responded to the report about the case, stating it was “Fake news!!!! It became very predictable right before the hearing, as if by chance.” The Real Madrid player is preparing for a hearing concerning his disputed unpaid dues from his former club.
Real Madrid Accounts Publish Photos of Mbappé in Training
Mbappé trained with his Real Madrid teammates during a group session on Tuesday. The club did not immediately respond to media inquiries about whether it was aware of the investigation or if it had been contacted by Swedish authorities. Real Madrid's official accounts shared photos of Mbappé from the training session.
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