French journalist Daniel Riolo defended Kylian Mbappé on the programme “L'After Foot” on French radio station “RMC” after backlash over a satirical image Mbappé posted containing a joke about Chinese leader Mao Zedong and after fallout from Mbappé's failure to land the Ballon d'Or. GOAL also reported that Mbappé scored against Racing Santander.
Riolo praises Mbappé's response
Speaking on “L'After Foot”, Riolo praised Mbappé's mental strength in handling the crisis. He said: "We must certainly shed light on that completely absurd story that appeared right after the Ballon d'Or ceremony. Mbappé shows a mental toughness far above the normal level. Getting past something like this was not simple at all, as it carried political and diplomatic dimensions, and an enormous burden was placed on him, and then a few days later he delivers a performance like the one he produced yesterday, even if it was against a modest side, which confirms that we are dealing with a truly strong character."
His comments on the Sweden case
Riolo said Mbappé had been accused of rape in Sweden before the prosecutor's office, following an investigation that lasted two months, concluded that there was no criminal act. He said: "We already knew that, but a story like this... he has never been subjected to anything similar before. What happened in Sweden was serious, as he was accused of rape, before the prosecutor's office, following an investigation that lasted two months, concluded that there was no criminal act. But do you realise what is happening? It is often said that everything surrounding Mbappé is irrational, but this story comes close to the limits of extremism, the matter is insane."
Riolo discusses conspiracy claims
He said: "For all these accusations to be levelled at Mbappé based on a video clip dating back months, then for the violent reaction to come from China deciding simply not to broadcast the matches, this is something completely irrational. What happened in Sweden was also irrational, and to this day we know absolutely nothing about that case. What I mean is that it did not lead to any outcome. Did you see what it produced? Are there still people who believe that there is no conspiracy aimed at bringing him down?"
He went on, asking: "Do you really think that talk of a conspiracy is merely a theory? The video clip that appeared after three months, and what happened in Sweden... there are too many coincidences, really."
