ARSENAL cult hero Emmanuel Eboue has lifted the lid on how he “lost everything” following his divorce.
Eboue, who made over 200 appearances for , suffered financial collapse towards the end of his career after splitting from his ex-wife Aurelie.
Arsenal hero Emmanuel Eboue has opened up on his financial losses following his divorce Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
The retired right-back’s career came to an abrupt end when Sunderland ripped up his contract in 2016, after suspended him from all football-related activity for one year.
Eboue was given the ban after failing to pay over £850,000 owed to his agents.
The former Ivory Coast international pinpointed that moment as the start of the collapse of his marriage, a divorce that he claims saw him lose “three houses” and “lots of cars.”
Speaking on The 5th House Podcast , Eboue said: “They wanted me to give them [my agent] €1million, so I said I would prefer to stop playing football then give them that money.
“My ex-agent went to Fifa and then Fifa banned me for one year. I moved back to Turkey to hide, because I didn’t want people to know I didn’t have a club, and that’s when the divorce started.”
Eboue, who shares three kids with first wife Aurelie, added: “I lost a lot. A lot. To be honest, I don’t want to say how much but it was a lot.
“I lost everything in my life in England. I did everything in my career in England, I bought a lot of houses there. I had three houses there, and I had a lot of cars. I lost all of them and I lost money also.”
Eboue revealed that he was at his lowest in the wake of the divorce, and even had to board up his windows just to avoid being snapped by paparazzi.
Eboue’s contract at Sunderland was ripped up after he was suspended by Fifa Credit: Getty – Contributor
He added: “I was very, very down. I was feeling very down because I was living somewhere that the press knew where I was living.
“So every day the press was there, so I had to cut up boxes and then put them on the windows because I don’t want the press or media to take pictures of me.
“I was very, very down, It was very bad, I didn’t even eat.”
Over the years, Eboue has also lost contact with his kids and hasn’t spoken to son Mathis, 17, in “four, nearly five years”.
Mathis penned pro terms with in February of this year, but
The former Gunners ace said: “I feel very sad because when he signed for Chelsea, I wasn’t there.
“So my Mum didn’t call me also, so I didn’t even know. Because before I was talking with him. But now, since four, nearly five years, I didn’t even have any contact with him.
“So these things, when I’m talking about, it’s paining me a lot because he’s my son.
“And then when I was with him, I teach him also how to play football. I have some video of me and him when we were playing.
“To be honest, I’m very happy for him. I didn’t even think that he will be there, but now I’m very very happy for him.
“But inside, in my body, I’m crying because I want to be closer to my son to help him.”
Mathis Eboue has signed a professional contract at Chelsea Credit: Getty
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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