Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has issued a rebuttal to Kylian Mbappe after he suggested that his former club might be involved in the circulation of rape allegations against him, which he has dismissed as "baseless" and "fake."
Local media reports indicate that Mbappe faced accusations of rape and sexual harassment at a Swedish hotel where he was staying with friends last week.
On Monday afternoon, Mbappe took to X to refute the allegations, posting: "FAKE NEWS! It's becoming so predictable, just before the hearing as if by chance," accompanied by a winking emoji. His remarks appeared to be directed at PSG amid an ongoing dispute regarding unpaid wages.
The French superstar is pursuing nearly £50 million in unpaid wages and bonuses after leaving PSG to join Real Madrid last summer. A meeting involving Mbappe, PSG, and the appeals committee is scheduled for Tuesday.
In response, PSG criticized Mbappe's comments, stating, "It's a shame. We will keep our class and our dignity." A source close to the club added, "PSG is responsible for everything with him. He didn’t score any goals (apart from penalties) for Madrid? It’s PSG. He missed the French national team matches, even though he says he did, but he’s not injured? It’s PSG."
Mbappe was in Sweden after being excluded from France's national team squad for the ongoing international break due to a recent injury. France manager Didier Deschamps emphasized that Mbappe's omission was a precaution to safeguard his fitness.
Additionally, Mbappe's representatives released a statement addressing the allegations from Sweden, asserting that they plan to take legal action to clear his name. They stated, "Today, a new slanderous rumor begins to set the web ablaze, starting from the Swedish media Aftonbladet. These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable."
While the statement did not mention PSG's involvement in the allegations, Mbappe's post on X has likely exacerbated tensions between him and his former club.
Mbappe left PSG on a free transfer at the end of last season after seven years with the club, moving to Madrid. He claims he is owed approximately £50 million in wages and bonuses, and the LFP, the governing body of French professional football, ruled last month that PSG must pay this amount in the ongoing dispute.