Chelsea's ultimate forgotten man reportedly assaulted in shocking restaurant ambush

Former Chelsea star Malang Sarr was reportedly ambushed and slapped by a “group of imposing Frenchmen,” while dining with team-mates in Malaga, Spain back in July.

The ex-Blues centre-back, who signed with Saudi superpower NEOM SC this summer, was allegedly dragged away and slapped by a “group of imposing Frenchmen” while dining with team-mates.

Sarr and his peers were dining in the privacy of a reserved Elba Estepona Gran Hotel section, when the Frenchmen, claiming to be associates of his former agent, accosted Chelsea’s forgotten man.

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What allegedly happened to Malang Sarr during five-star hotel 'ambush'

L’Equipe reported that Sarr was dragged aside and repeatedly slapped during this assault, however, the French footballer has refuted such claims.

The initial argument was, reportedly, in relation to his lucrative Saudi Arabia transfer; Sarr is set to earn £13million in a freshly-signed three-year deal.

The French centre-back had entered business with multiple agents ahead of his NEOM move; L’Equipe’s report suggests that one, who had entered negotiations with the Saudi Pro League side, felt aggrieved by Sarr’s actions.

Reportedly, the “imposing Frenchmen” ordered him to stay put, then demanded compensation for said agent, which Sarr refused.

The day prior to his alleged assault, Sarr’s former agent was also claimed to have sent his brother to the NEOM centre-back’s residence.

Sarr, who was undergoing his first pre-season training camp with NEOM in Malaga, has also refuted witness claims that he left the Elba Estepona Gran Hotel with his alleged assailants.

Spanish police arrived on the scene, as well as a representative from the Saudi Arabian Consulate General, to interview witnesses at the five-star hotel in Spain.

Reportedly, the interviews were conducted, but witnesses present for Sarr’s alleged assault refused to provide statements to the Spanish authority.

The ex-Blues defender has not lodged any form of complaint following the event, but NEOM are said to have increased security following the Frenchmen’s ambush.

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What happened to Chelsea’s ‘forgotten man’ Malang Sarr?

Sarr’s Premier League-playing days in London were short-lived, having made just eight English top-flight appearances for a total of 555 minutes.

For Chelsea, the Frenchman appeared 21 times for a collective 1528 minutes in 2021-22, with the majority of his playing time arriving in the FA and Carabao Cups.

Sarr went on loan to Monaco, before embarking on a free transfer to Lens in Ligue 1. He remained in the French top-flight until this summer, before making the Saudi Pro League move to NEOM SC.

Since his alleged assault in Spain, the 27-year-old has featured in eight games for NEOM, seven times in his domestic league and once in the King’s Cup.

Sarr’s men are currently positioned fifth in the Saudi Pro League table, after making the jump from Division 1 in 2024-25.

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