Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma experienced a devastating period in which criminals targeted him three times, stealing valuables worth approximately £1million.
The 29-year-old revealed the repeated burglaries left him battling depression, paranoia and sleepless nights.
He was seen in recent footage inhaling nitrous oxide, which he said was a coping mechanism.
Bissouma said: "I am sorry. This broke something in me I didn't even know I could break. I apologise to the fans. The trauma added to my life: fear, panic, depression and paranoia."
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The Mali international, who joined Spurs from Brighton in 2022, acknowledged the footage was damaging to his image as a professional and expressed particular concern about how it affected his family, including his father.
The first incident occurred in June 2024 when Bissouma was pepper-sprayed by robbers while on holiday in Cannes with his girlfriend, with the attackers reportedly making off with a watch valued at £260,000.
Months later, in November 2024, masked intruders attempted to force their way into his home while he was inside playing on a game console with friends.
Bissouma recounted in his police statement: "Three men started smashing the door with huge stones. They hit the window at least seven or eight times until it finally gave in."
Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma experienced a devastating period in which criminals targeted him three times
|PA
He added: "I tried to escape through the garden, slipped, sprained my wrist - waited 30 long minutes for police, not knowing if those men would come back."
The most recent raid in July saw thieves escape with high-end designer watches including a Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe, along with jewellery and Louis Vuitton bags.
In a heartbreaking admission, Bissouma revealed he had been sleeping at Tottenham's training ground because he was too frightened to remain in his own home.
He told The Sun: "Sometimes I was too scared to sleep at home, so I was taking my stuff and sleeping in the training ground."
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Bissouma revealed he had been sleeping at Tottenham's training ground because he was too frightened to remain in his own home
|PA
He added: "For like three, four, five, sometimes five days, I was going and sleeping there because I did not want to be at home."
The midfielder, who captains Mali's national team, described the profound psychological impact of the crimes despite considering himself resilient.
"I'm a strong person. I'm a mentally and physically strong African man. I've faced battles and storms before, but these incidents - they broke something in me I didn't even know could break," he said.
Tottenham confirmed they are investigating the latest footage as an internal matter.
Tottenham confirmed they are investigating the latest footage as an internal matter
|PA
Possessing nitrous oxide for recreational purposes has been illegal in the UK since 2023, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to two years.
This is not Bissouma's first such incident. He was suspended by the club at the start of last season after posting similar footage to his own social media, subsequently apologising for a "severe lack of judgement".
He has yet to feature under manager Thomas Frank this campaign, having been dropped from the squad for the Uefa Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain due to persistent lateness.
An ankle injury sustained while representing Mali in October has further complicated his situation, with Spurs sending him to Qatar for rehabilitation.
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