Former Arsenal and Cote d’Ivoire star Emmanuel Eboue has dismissed reports insinuating that he plunged into poverty after divorce, noting that he still has properties in Africa.
Eboue lost a legal battle with ex-wife Aurelie in 2017 and in the process, gave up some of his assets after which he reportedly described himself to be poor and homeless, according to Sunday Mirror.
However, the former Ivorian international has told his own side of the story while suggesting that he may have been misunderstood.
“When [people] say Emmanuel Eboue lost everything, it’s not nice,” the 37-year-old said, as reported by Citi Sports.
“Because I had a divorce [case] and they [court] said my wife won, they gave her all my properties – my two houses, money and the cars that I had in England.
“I wasn’t worried about it because I expected that she was going to use it to take care of my children.
“When they [court] said that, I was very disappointed… To be honest, for the first time, I was very down but after that, I prayed and forgot about all of that.”
Ebou’s divorce occurred when he was trying to pick himself back up from a one-year football ban for failing to pay a former agent.
“After that [divorce case], I left and returned back to Africa. I have my own properties in Africa and so I live with that,” the former player added.
“When I hear people say Emmanuel Eboue lost everything, I laugh. I have properties in Ghana, I have properties in my home country [Ivory Coast].
“I live very comfortably and I thank God. So when people keep talking and say Emmanuel Eboue doesn’t have anything, he can’t eat, doesn’t have a place to stay, it’s not true.”
Eboue played for Arsenal between 2004 and 2011 after leaving Belgian side Beveren.
He later joined Galatasaray in Turkey before moving back to England to sign for Sunderland. But, the deal ended after one month as he bagged a one-year ban from football.
Eboue made 79 appearances for Cote d’Ivoire at senior level, representing the side at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments.
