Lille star Reinildo Mandava narrowly escapes death after armed robbers shoot up car, with bullets smashing windows
FRENCH title winner Reinildo Mandava has narrowly escaped death… after armed robbers peppered his car with bullets.
Mandava helped Lille pip favourites Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 crown in May.
Voted the league’s best left-back, the Mozambique international made 29 appearances for Christophe Galtier’s side.
He is valued at £9milliion, and has caught the eye of several Premier League clubs.
But Mandava came under fire in his African home country on Thursday when carjackers attempted to steal his new Toyota 4×4.
They fired several bullets through the vehicle’s windows, narrowly missing the 27-year-old defender.
Mandava managed to escape and drive to a police station where he spent the night safely.
An official spokesman said: “He is very frightened. He was pretty traumatised by the situation.”
Mandava had proudly posted pictures of the Toyota on social media just days before.
He had been on his way to the wedding of a friend, Gildo Vilanculos – who plays for Portuguese club Amora FC.
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The attack took place in Mozambique’s central Zambezia province, near his birthplace Beira.
Mandava has won 16 caps for the south-east African country, scoring two goals.
He came through Benfica’s reserve side, and played for fellow Portuguese sides Covilha and Belenenses, before making a £2.7m move to Lille in 2019.