Having announced his impending exit from OL Marseille on May 18 via a toughing Instagram post, 2018 FIFA World Cup winner and French international Benjamin Pavard was supposedly the target of a failed burglary two days later.
The 30-year-old has spent the season on loan at Marseille from Inter Milan, having signed with an option to make the move permanent for $17.5 million, according to L’Equipe.
Despite starting 32 games and appearing in 38 across all competitions this season, scoring once in the process as Marseille finished fifth in Ligue 1, it seems Pavard is set to return to Italy.
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“A chapter closes today with @olympiquedemarseille,” he recently wrote. “Wearing this jersey will remain a powerful experience in both my career and my life.
“I have always strived to give my all on the pitch and to represent this club with respect and commitment. I leave with a mix of deep emotions, valuable lessons, and the memory of a dressing room that remained united right to the very end.
“Thank you to the club, the staff, my teammates, and everyone who stood behind us this season. I wish OM all the best for the future.”
Just two days after sharing news of his exit, Pavard’s home in Marseille was nearly broken into, with the Frenchman’s wife spotting five individuals breaking into their garden, at which point she contacted the police, as per Le Parisien, via a police source. They then fled in a Mercedes-Benz.
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The individuals allegedly involved were described as aged between 18 and 28 and traveled from the Île-de-France area. What’s more, they are said to have already been known to authorities.
Police later pulled over a car that matched the description and was carrying five people, with the suspects arrested.
This caps off a disappointing month for Pavard, which saw him left out of Didier Deschamps’ 26-man roster for the upcoming World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Pavard has made 55 appearances for France since his debut in 2017, scoring five goals along the way, reaching two World Cup finals, winning one, and winning the UEFA Nations League once. In 2018, he was also awarded the FIFA World Cup Goal of the Tournament during France’s title-winning run.
While four-time Bundesliga and former Serie A winner Pavard may not have made the cut for France, having last represented his nation in November 2024, the final squad is still stacked with both experience and young talent as they head into Group I against Senegal, Norway, and Iraq as one of the tournament favorites.
Full 26-Man Roster:
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Rennes), Robin Risser (Lens)
Defenders: Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Theo Hernández (Al Hilal), Lucas Hernández (PSG), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
Midfielders: Manu Koné (AS Roma), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), N’Golo Kanté (Fenerbahçe), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
Forwards: Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Désiré Doué (PSG), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Maghnes Akliouche (AS Monaco)
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