In total, 22 professional players were victims of theft in France in 2021, that’s nine more than in 2020.
Paris-Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and his companion were robbed and kidnapped overnight from Thursday to Friday July 21, at their home in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The couple were tied up and the PSG goalkeeper was slightly injured. In total, nearly 500,000 euros worth of luxury watches, jewelry and leather goods were stolen.
This new burglary is added to the long list of players or ex-players of the PSG already victim. In just five years, this is the ninth burglary by a Parisian player. Among them are former captain Thiago Silva, defender Presnel Kimpenbe and striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was robbed twice in 2018.
But the dark year for Paris Saint-Germain is 2021. Four burglaries in total, including two on the same evening. The facts took place during a match at the Parc des Princes against Nantes in March 2021. Luxury watches, jewelry, and cash had been stolen from Angel Di Maria, ex-PSG player, for damage estimated at nearly 500,000 euros.
Other clubs affected
Burglaries that are sometimes violent, as evidenced by that of the night of July 20 to 21 at Donnarumma’s home. But the one who made an impression is the one with the current captain of the Parisians, Marquinhos. His father, present at the home with the player’s two young daughters, had been struck by the burglars.
But PSG are not really an exception. This is also the case for the players of Olympique de Marseille, for a long time. At the start of the year, defender Séhad Kolazinatch was added to this long list. Olympique Lyonnais, for its part, was affected by a series of burglaries between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. Each time, the damage is estimated at several thousand euros. This is also the case for Lille striker Jonathan Ikoné, victim of a theft estimated at 250,000 euros.
A phenomenon on the rise
Even the National championship is not spared. Like Nolane Roux, player of the Berrichonne de Chateauroux. Nearly 100,000 euros worth of clothing, jewelry and HI-FI equipment were stolen from him. A total of 22 professional players were victims of these thefts in France in 2021, according to the Information, intelligence and strategic analysis service on organized crime. That’s nine more than in 2020.
And this phenomenon does not only affect France. During the World Cup in Qatar, for example, Raheem Sterling was the victim of a burglary at his home in London.