Paris (AFP)

Jewelry and watches stolen from Angel di Maria's home, burglary with "violence" targeting Marquinhos' family ... Through the two stars of Paris SG, everyone in football is asking themselves the question of their off-court security.

- What happened ?

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PSG-Nantes, Sunday, 10:17 p.m .: Leandro Paredes replaces Di Maria, whom coach Mauricio Pochettino, looking serious, escorts back to the locker room.

A few minutes earlier, the sporting director Leonardo, in the stand, had slipped two words to "Poche".

As soon as the match (lost 2-1) ended, the club lifted the veil around this strange sequence: Di Maria, like another player in the workforce, was targeted by a burglary during the evening.

The first elements of the investigation, collected Monday by AFP, allow us to trace the thread of events.

Around 9:00 p.m., in Neuilly, jewelry and watches, for less than 500,000 euros, were stolen from the Argentinian's home, without there being any violence.

Later, at 9.40 p.m. in the Yvelines, another burglary took place at the home of Marquinhos' father, present on the scene, like two of the Brazilian defender's sisters, aged 16 and 13.

The father, 52, was struck in the ribs by the perpetrators, who "searched the rooms while taking the girls" with them, according to a police source.

"No one has suffered and everyone is fine. More fear than harm," reassured Marquinhos on Instagram overnight.

On Monday, the investigation sought to determine whether it was one and the same team that carried out the two break-ins.

There are "coincidences", says a source close to the investigation.

- Is it recurring?

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In January, two other Parisians, Sergio Rico and Mauro Icardi, were the victims of a burglary.

It also happened to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (twice in 2018), Thiago Silva (2018) and Dani Alves (2019), all targeted while they were at the stadium.

"In Paris, I have the impression that the phenomenon is accelerating, but it goes beyond the framework of sport", explains to AFP Jean-Philippe d'Hallivillée, director of security of PSG between 2005 and 2017.

The thieves know "that there is money, jewelry, watches, luxury items" among footballers, according to a police source.

They are public figures "much more followed, more visible than rich industrialists, for example."

- Is it unique to Paris?

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No, cases have been identified in other French cities, as well as abroad.

In Lyon, for example, three players, including Dutch star Memphis Depay, were robbed during the Champions League match against FC Barcelona in February 2019.

"It is never harmless, it is traumatic for the players and their families. In addition, the next day, they have to take time to file a complaint, to carry out the procedures and for 48 hours, they do not have the head to football ", reacted at the time Bruno Genesio, then coach of OL.

In September, Nice striker Kasper Dolberg was broken into and his vehicle stolen while he was with the Danish team.

Since 2006, a dozen OM players, and even two of its former presidents, have been victims of burglaries or "home-jacking".

In England, Angel di Maria had experienced a similar mishap in 2015, when he played for Manchester United.

- What protection for the players?

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Monday afternoon, PSG decided to temporarily strengthen the security of the homes of its players, with agents posted in front of each residence 24 hours a day, the club announced to AFP, confirming information from L'Equipe.

"The club has a moral responsibility, of support, towards the player, his environment, so that he can express himself as well as possible on the ground", explains Jean-Philippe d'Hallivillée.

If their employer helps them, athletes do not hesitate to call on private companies to protect them.

“Some like Rolando (in Marseille between 2015 and 2019) or Isla (2015-16) had guys at home, big arms. 'alarm. Overall, we advise them to favor apartments, to forward their mail to the club. To be a minimum discreet ", explains to AFP Mathieu Grégoire, correspondent of L'Equipe in Marseille and co-author of the book "The Godfathers of Football".

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