'PSG tried to abandon and destroy me'
Tom Weber
- Updated: 25 Sept 2023 21:34 BST
- 4 min read
Kheira Hamraoui has levelled serious allegations at Paris Saint-Germain after leaving the club.
The ex-Barcelona star is still involved in a criminal investigation after being assaulted by two masked men in late 2021. At the time, Hamraoui was playing for PSG, having returned to the club and supplanted Aminata Diallo in the side.
It was Diallo with whom Hamraoui was driving home when the assault took place. Hamraoui reportedly later alleged that teammates had told her that Diallo was behind the attack and she was arrested and interrogated as part of the investigation.
Diallo was initially placed under judicial supervision and prohibited from leaving France, though she did eventually get permission to sign for Levante in a controversial move. She is now playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
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Cesar Mavacala, agent and husband of PSG teammate Kadidiatou Diani, was accused by Hamraoui of having been involved in the attack and he was later indicted for "organised gang extortion" in reference to a lucrative new contract he had obtained for France star Marie-Antoinette Katoto.
The investigation also affected former Barcelona men's player and sporting director Eric Abidal. During the inquiry, it was revealed that Hamraoui had had an affair with him during her time in Catalonia for which his wife divorced him.
The 33-year-old recently signed for Club America in Liga BBVA MX Femenil and has now opened up about the aftermath of the assault case.
REFUERZO DE LUJO 💣@AmericaFemenil presentó a 🇫🇷 Kheira Hamraoui como nueva jugadora azulcrema. 🦅#VamosPorEllas👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/JpJpXquV1W
— LigaBBVAFemenil (@LigaBBVAFemenil) September 17, 2023
What did Hamraoui say?
Speaking to Sport, Hamraoui said regarding the incident: "We should also, and above all, ask the PSG leaders about their attitude towards me."
"The agent [Mavacala] of two of PSG's main players was charged in connection with my assault case. This case has shed light on the pressure exerted behind the scenes by certain people to try to remove me," she continued.
"I am in a healthy environment [now] and that is the most important thing. I lived through traumatic moments in France and being here can only do me good. My club, social networks and the French press did not forgive me."
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“It did a lot of psychological damage. I was disappointed in the club. Some of my former teammates and club employees know to what extent I was mistreated by PSG after my attack."
"That didn't stop me from fighting to get back on the field and regaining my starting position. Perhaps PSG did not know how or did not want to manage all this media attention for reasons unrelated to sports. They took the easy way out by trying to kick me out before my contract was up.”
