Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s ordeal during a violent 2023 robbery at his Paris home has returned to view as a criminal court begins hearing the case.
Why it landed this week
- Manchester City
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
Donnarumma’s Paris robbery case reaches court
A Paris criminal court has opened proceedings into the raid on Donnarumma and his then girlfriend, Alessia Elefante, who was pregnant at the time. The couple were asleep in their Avenue Montaigne apartment when intruders broke in, attacked them, tied them up and threatened them with a knife.
Donnarumma is not expected to give evidence in person, but the court has been presented with accounts he gave after the incident. He described the episode in 2023 as a period of “profound terror”.
The Italy international said he was woken by a man signalling for silence before being struck in the face with a knuckleduster and confronted with a knife. The attacker demanded watches, and Donnarumma directed him to an Audemars Piguet watch on a dressing table.
Elefante told investigators of threats and assault
Elefante said she too was woken by the attackers, who demanded cash and watches. She handed over a Cartier watch, jewellery and €2,000 in cash.
The gang then sought the code to a safe. Elefante told them she did not know it and said it was empty, but described how the attackers became angry, pulled her hair and struck her on the thighs. She told investigators that she informed them of her pregnancy, but the violence continued.
Donnarumma eventually gave the robbers the safe code. It contained nothing, as Elefante had said. The attackers left with keys to a Mercedes and a Lamborghini, as well as cash, watches and luxury handbags.
Accused men face allegations over the raid
Ilyas Kherbouch, 21, and Khyan Mamouni are accused of arranging and directing the robbery from prison cells. Kherbouch has at least 11 previous criminal convictions. Both men deny the allegations.
Two attackers who were under 18 at the time have already been sentenced by a youth court to prison terms of three and four years.
Moktar Diop, 24, has admitted involvement in the robbery, although he is not accused of using violence. A fourth suspect died by suicide in 2024. He had previously admitted taking part but told investigators that his accomplices had put him under pressure.
SEO title: Manchester City’s Donnarumma at centre of Paris robbery trial
SEO description: A Paris court has begun hearing the case over the 2023 armed robbery of Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alessia Elefante.
