Former Chelsea centre-back Malang Sarr was reportedly ambushed and slapped in a Malaga restaurant in July after a row over agent commission on his £13m move to Saudi side NEOM.
L'Equipe claims a group of imposing Frenchmen interrupted a private dining room where Sarr was eating with two new team-mates and dragged him aside for a heated confrontation.
The argument centred on Sarr signing a three-year deal worth £13m without involving an agent who had previous dealings with NEOM and felt cut out of the payday.
Sarr's Chelsea contract expired on June 30, allowing him to join NEOM on a free transfer despite a market value around £17.2m, and he agreed terms in just two days.
The Senegal international refuted assault claims to French media and denied leaving the hotel with the intruders after Spanish police and a Saudi consulate representative arrived.
Witnesses reportedly refused to give statements, and both parties are said to have cooled down since the incident at the Marbella Football Centre pre-season camp.
The argument doing the rounds in Kampala is whether players truly need agents when clubs like NEOM are willing to deal directly, or if this violence proves the game's dark underbelly remains unchanged.
- Player: Malang Sarr (27, Senegal)
- Former club: Chelsea (contract expired June 30, 2026)
- New club: NEOM (Saudi First Division)
- Contract: 3 years, £13m total
- Incident date: July 2026, Malaga, Spain
- Allegation: Assault over agent commission dispute
- Outcome: Police involved, no statements taken, parties calmed down
Source: The Sun
