Lamine Diaby-Fadiga has admitted he stole former Nice team-mate Kasper Dolberg's £62,000 watch out of "jealousy".
Dolberg, who joined Nice from Ajax in August, had his watch stolen in the dressing room after a training session on September 16 and reported the theft to police.
After several days of an unprecedented media storm for me, I have decided to speak via this statement," he tweeted.
"I would like to first of all apologise to the fans and those who love Le Gym [club's nickname]. A lot of them supported me and showed me kindness since I made my professional debut, as a youngster from the local region who joined the club when I was 14. Their reactions embody the level of disappointment that they feel towards me and I owe them some explanations.
"I proudly wore the club of my childhood's shirt last season in Ligue 1. I was unfortunately injured for several months and my return to competitive action was further delayed following a red card I picked up while playing for the U19s."
"That affected me mentally and my difficult situation contrasted starkly the success and aura of Kasper, my team-mate. I took it out on him without having any reason to do so, maybe a bit because of jealousy. Instead of trying to battle on the pitch to provide him with competition for places, I reacted stupidly towards him.
"My actions were not taken out of an appetite to gain something from it, but out of spite, frustration and feeling discredited. Of course, I am only 18, but my age excuses nothing. I therefore owned up to what I had done to Kasper, Mr Fournier, the director general of the club, Patrick Vieira, my coach and Dante, my captain. One by one, I apologised to each one of them. "I also took on the responsibility of reimbursing my team-mate fully, which I have now done. I wish him a lot of success at OGC Nice and in his career. Maybe one day we will come across each other on a pitch and this affair will be merely a bad memory.
"Now, I am leaving the club where I had always wanted to succeed and enjoy myself, which for me is the greatest possible punishment. I thank all those who believed in me. I hope to be able to prove one day that they were right and that I am worth more than what has happened. Redemption for me will come on the football pitch and I now want to concentrate on my passion, football."
Dolberg, who joined Nice from Ajax in August, had his watch stolen in the dressing room after a training session on September 16 and reported the theft to police.
After several days of an unprecedented media storm for me, I have decided to speak via this statement," he tweeted.
"I would like to first of all apologise to the fans and those who love Le Gym [club's nickname]. A lot of them supported me and showed me kindness since I made my professional debut, as a youngster from the local region who joined the club when I was 14. Their reactions embody the level of disappointment that they feel towards me and I owe them some explanations.
"I proudly wore the club of my childhood's shirt last season in Ligue 1. I was unfortunately injured for several months and my return to competitive action was further delayed following a red card I picked up while playing for the U19s."
"That affected me mentally and my difficult situation contrasted starkly the success and aura of Kasper, my team-mate. I took it out on him without having any reason to do so, maybe a bit because of jealousy. Instead of trying to battle on the pitch to provide him with competition for places, I reacted stupidly towards him.
"My actions were not taken out of an appetite to gain something from it, but out of spite, frustration and feeling discredited. Of course, I am only 18, but my age excuses nothing. I therefore owned up to what I had done to Kasper, Mr Fournier, the director general of the club, Patrick Vieira, my coach and Dante, my captain. One by one, I apologised to each one of them. "I also took on the responsibility of reimbursing my team-mate fully, which I have now done. I wish him a lot of success at OGC Nice and in his career. Maybe one day we will come across each other on a pitch and this affair will be merely a bad memory.
"Now, I am leaving the club where I had always wanted to succeed and enjoy myself, which for me is the greatest possible punishment. I thank all those who believed in me. I hope to be able to prove one day that they were right and that I am worth more than what has happened. Redemption for me will come on the football pitch and I now want to concentrate on my passion, football."
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