French football legend Marcel Desailly is embroiled in a court case to determine paternity for a 10-year-old daughter, Victoria, whom he has reportedly refused to acknowledge since 2021. Desailly and his former partner, Cosma Batista de Alcantara, are scheduled to appear at the Paris judicial court on Tuesday, as the ongoing legal battle reaches a critical stage.
According to Le Parisien, a DNA test has already confirmed Desailly as Victoria’s biological father. If the court upholds this finding, Desailly could be obligated to pay monthly alimony of approximately £4,148 (€5,000) to Batista de Alcantara, with whom he was in a relationship between 2010 and 2018.
Financial Troubles Amid Legal Obligations
Despite the DNA results, Desailly’s financial situation has become a contentious issue. Reports suggest the former Chelsea and AC Milan star claims he is nearly bankrupt and unable to meet the alimony demands. Le Parisien states that Desailly, who previously earned around £7,100 (€8,600) per month as a pundit for beIN Sports, is now repaying the same £4,148 each month to the French government due to tax evasion penalties.
Between 2011 and 2019, Desailly faced sanctions for income tax evasion, which resulted in a mandatory monthly payment to French tax authorities beginning in 2022. In addition, the 1998 World Cup winner has reportedly sold off assets to cover alimony for his other children from previous relationships, including four with his ex-wife Virginie Desailly and another child, Aida, whose paternity he also disputed.
Batista de Alcantara’s Perspective
Batista de Alcantara has cast doubt on Desailly’s claims of financial hardship, recounting her experiences during their relationship. Speaking to Le Parisien, she shared:
“Since I’ve known him, he has always claimed to be broke. Back then, I believed him. He even told me we’d move into an apartment he owned on Rue de la Paix in Paris, but we never did.”
She also revealed that Desailly had previously sent money for Victoria’s expenses, though it allegedly fell short of covering her tuition at a French school in Spain. Batista de Alcantara expressed frustration over her daughter’s emotional distress, saying,
“Victoria doesn’t understand why he doesn’t call her anymore. She suffers, and it breaks my heart.”
Desailly’s Response
Desailly’s lawyer, Francoise Majnoni d’Intignano, has refuted claims that the former defender is financially stable. In a statement, they noted:
“He is not the wealthy footballer and businessman that Ms. Batista de Alcantara portrays him to be. His professional future is highly uncertain, with no prospects of a new contract at beIN Sports.”
The publication also revealed that Desailly has not received dividends from his business ventures in France or Ghana since 2009, further underscoring his financial struggles.
Timeline of the Relationship
Desailly reportedly met Batista de Alcantara in Paris in 2010 while he was still married to Virginie. The two eventually moved in together on Rue de la Pompe in Paris, and Batista de Alcantara gave birth to Victoria in March 2014. However, tensions have since escalated, with allegations of inadequate financial support and emotional neglect dominating the court case.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus remains on whether the court will enforce alimony payments and how Desailly’s financial claims will influence the outcome. Meanwhile, the emotional toll on the 10-year-old girl and her mother continues to draw public attention.