Prosecutors in Sweden have made a key decision regarding an alleged rape case linked to Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe according to the AFP, which cited anonymous sources on its Spanish-language social media account when sharing news of the development.
"The Swedish prosecutor's office is shelving the investigation into an alleged "rape" linked to a stay in Stockholm by Kylian Mbappé and his entourage due to lack of evidence," the AFP stated, adding that the Public Prosecutor's Office announced this "without mentioning Real Madrid's French soccer player".
SPORT carried quotes from Marina Chirakova, who formed part of the investigation.
"There is not enough evidence to continue with the case," she said. "The soccer player Kylian Mbappe is no longer a suspect: the investigation is closed.
"No interrogations have been carried out," added Chirakova, who led the preliminary investigation while Mbappe was never notified of suspicion of a crime.
The alleged incident was said to have taken place in October when Mbappe travelled to Stockholm during the international break of that month after not being picked by France for UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium.
As Mundo Deportivo explains, it was the Swedish press - and not the prosecutor's office - that pointed to Mbappe as a "potential suspect" in the case that has now been closed by Swedish prosecutors.
In a wide-ranging interview with Canal+ which was broadcast on Sunday in France, and where Mbappe confessed he could have renewed his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, the Madrid number 9 said he "would go" to Sweden if summoned by local authorities though they hadn't yet contacted him.
"Listen, I haven't received anything, no summons, nothing," Mbappe explained. "The Swedish government has not said anything, so I'm not concerned (involved)."
"I was surprised and I still am surprised, by the way. These are things that come into your life like that, you can't see them coming," Mbappé also commented. "It's just incomprehension. I don't think it weighed on me in the sense that I have never considered myself involved."
With the case now closed, focus can remain on the pitch where Mbappe scored against Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday but then had to be taken off injured ahead of Saturday's La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano and the Intercontinental Cup final.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti provided an update on his striker following the 3-2 win in Bergamo, but Madrid is yet to publish an official statement on the Ballon d'Or aspirant's fitness at the time of publishing.