Ligue 1 star exposed by ex-girlfriend after selling boots he stole from teammate

A “young” Bordeaux player was reportedly caught stealing boots from the club’s dressing room to sell online before his ex-girlfriend told his team-mates what was happening

An anonymous Ligue 1 player was reportedly caught stealing boots from Bordeaux’s dressing room in the latest saga to hit the struggling French club.

The alleged thief – identified only as a “young player” – is believed to have stolen several pairs of boots from his team-mates before reselling them online. Senior top-flight footballers often receive the boots for free courtesy of a lucrative sponsorship deal.

Rumours suggest an ex-girlfriend unmasked the youngster by leaking his identity to the rest of the squad. Senior Bordeaux stars demanded the alleged thief should no longer take part in the squad’s activities, such as matchdays and even training sessions.

As reported by RMC Sport, the youngster was allowed to remain part of the squad. He is said to have received a one-match ban and a significant fine, despite some members of the squad claiming the punishment was too lenient. The case is now thought to be closed.

Mirror Football have contacted Bordeaux for comment.

Bordeaux have endured a nightmare 12 months since the club’s owners placed them into administration in April 2021. The French outfit were struggling financially due to impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the curtailment of the 2019-20 Ligue 1 campaign.

“While Bordeaux is strongly impacted, King Street, its shareholder, after having invested 46 million euros in the club since its takeover, has let it be known that he no longer wishes to support the club and finance its current and future needs,” read a club statement.

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“These circumstances led the president to protect the club by placing it under the protection of the Bordeaux Commercial Court. An ad hoc representative has been appointed, he will be responsible for assisting Bordeaux in their search for a lasting solution.”

Despite entering administration, Bordeaux managed to survive relegation last season – finishing 12th – but look set to drop into Ligue 2 in the coming weeks. They’re currently bottom of the table – six points from safety – with nine fixtures remaining.

Bordeaux started the season with former Lazio and Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic in charge, but he was replaced by current boss David Guion in February. Guion finished a four-year spell at Reims in 2021, guiding them to the Ligue 2 title in 2017-18.

Bordeaux haven’t played in Ligue 2 since 1991-92 campaign. They are one of the most successful clubs in France, winning six Ligue 1 titles – their most recent coming in 2008-09. They’ve also won four French Cups, three French League Cups and other honours.

“I think we’re going to stay in Ligue 1,” confidently said Bordeaux’s president Gerard Lopez in March. “It’s clear cut and I have no doubt. I don’t say this to convince myself nor to convince others. I say it because it’s what I know we’re in the process of doing.

“And if, by the end of the season, it doesn’t pay off, we will have really tried everything… there some adjustments [if Bordeaux are relegated] that would be sad for a club like Bordeaux. It’s clear it would have a negative effect on the employees of the club.”