Ancelotti insists Mbappe is not affected by reports that he is being investigated in Sweden

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Kylian Mbappe was “unaffected” by Swedish press reports this week that the French captain is the subject of a rape investigation. The player’s legal team assured him that the report was false.

“I don’t attach importance to speculation coming from outside. I don’t see it having any impact at all,” Ancelotti said on Friday.

The Swedish press reported that the forward visited Stockholm during the international break after not being called up to the national team due to a minor injury.

Without citing sources, the Swedish press reported that Mbappe was the subject of an investigation on suspicion of sexual assault in a Stockholm hotel. Mbappe’s representatives considered these reports “false and irresponsible.”

Swedish prosecutors issued a brief statement Tuesday saying police had received a report of rape, but did not name any suspects.

Ancelotti defended his player’s right to travel in his free time.

“His rest days are scheduled, and everyone chooses what they want to do,” said the Italian coach. “I came to London for two days and didn’t ask anyone for permission.”

Mbappe injured his left thigh at the end of September but missed only one game for Real. He returned as a substitute in the surprise 1-0 defeat to Lille in the Champions League and then started in the 2-0 win over Villarreal in the Spanish League. Then the international window was lost.

Mbappe trained with Madrid this week ahead of the return of the Spanish league. Madrid will face Celta Vigo on Saturday.

“He took advantage of this break to improve his condition,” Ancelotti added. “He’s very good, I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game. These 15 days helped him a lot because he became a different player than he was before the break.”