Europe 1 with AFP 6:49 p.m., January 8, 2023

Cameroonian Modeste M'Bami, a former PSG and Marseille midfielder, died at the age of 40 in Le Havre, sports agent Franck Belhassen announced on Saturday.

Residing in Le Havre, the city where he ended his career as a professional footballer in 2016 in Ligue 2, the midfielder succumbed to a heart attack.

Modeste Mbami, a former PSG player who joined the club in 2003, is dead, Paris Saint-Germain announced on its website, along with player agent Franck Balhassen.

He "died of a heart attack" at the age of 40, writes PSG.

"I had his girlfriend, who confirmed the news to me," said Mr. Belhassen, who added that he spoke Saturday afternoon again with the former player.

"PSG learned with deep sadness of the death today of our former player Modeste M'Bami. The club offers its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones," wrote PSG on its Twitter account.

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Heart attack

OM also deplored the "sudden disappearance" of the former Olympian, as did Le Havre, which expressed its "tremendous sadness".

"Sad news. Modeste M'Bami left us at the age of 40… He wore the Sedan colors for 3 years (2000-2003). We offer all our condolences to his family and loved ones", tweeted for its part the club of Sedan.

According to the sports daily L'Equipe, the former player succumbed to a heart attack.

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Loaded list

M'Bami, born in Yaoundé, began his professional career in Sedan (2000-2003) before joining much more upscale teams such as PSG (2003-2006) then OM (2006-2009).

He then embarked on a journey that had taken him to Spain, China, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.

He had finished his adventure with the pros in Le Havre (2014-2016), where he had lived since and whose club also paid tribute to its former player on social networks.

M'Bami had two French Cups to his name, won with PSG (2004, 2006).

Olympic gold medalist in 2000 and selected 38 times for the national team, he was also a finalist in the Confederations Cup in 2003 and a CAN finalist in 2008 with the Indomitable Lions.