Kylian Mbappe suspected of bribery as prosecutors open investigation

Even on vacation, Kylian Mbappe finds no peace. After withdrawing his accusations of psychological harassment against PSG, who allegedly isolated him from the rest of the team, forcing him to train with players left out of the tour of Japan and South Korea, the Real Madrid star now faces a potential investigation in France.

The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation, scrutinising several cheque payments made by the 26-year-old forward.

The satirical magazine Canard Enchaîné, via GSP, revealed Wednesday that Mbappe "donated €180,300 to members of the police force responsible for the security of the national team players, information upon which prosecutors began investigations on Thursday."

The Paris prosecutor's office told AFP that it opened an investigation "following a Tracfin report dating from July 2024 concerning checks that may have been improperly issued by Mbappe to five CRS officers tasked with protecting the French national football teams," confirming an investigation by television stations M6 and RTL.

"This involves suspicions of atypical financial transactions benefiting five police officers and three private security agents," sources close to the investigation stated.

"The DNE (National Directorate of Investigations - General Inspectorate of the National Police) has been tasked with a judicial inquiry concerning allegations of under-the-table payments and money laundering," the Paris prosecutor's office stated.

They added: "The investigation, complex by nature given the financial transactions involved, is ongoing to determine if offenses were committed and to identify the perpetrators, if applicable."

Le Canard Enchaîné claims these checks from the French national team captain were used to "pay under the table for private services," totaling €180,300, provided by these police officers. Specifically, they allegedly accompanied Mbappe on private trips to Cameroon and Provence.

Representatives of the Real Madrid forward issued a statement asserting that "everything was done in accordance with the law, without any quid pro quo. Since his debut with the French national team, Kylian Mbappé has always chosen to donate his bonuses in full."

"This is what he did after the 2022 World Cup in full transparency, not only with associations but also with all the security agents who accompanied the national team, that is, eight people, including several CRS officers seconded to the FFF."

Regarding the police commander, "he was never paid for his presence alongside Kylian," the statement also published by L'Equipe clarifies.

Le Canard Enchaîné states that "a disciplinary board is to be convened for the police commander in the fall, and he is obligated to reimburse the sums considered improperly received."

Contacted by AFP, his lawyer, Jean-Baptiste Soufron, declined to comment, the French sports daily added.