While he is enjoying the limelight after winning the People's Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembélé now finds himself at the heart of a tax controversy linked to a transfer of 200,000 euros made to his mother. Behind what appeared to be a simple family gesture, the French tax authorities see a completely different reality.

In 2017, after signing his first major contract with Borussia Dortmund, Ousmane Dembélé reportedly gave his mother, Fatimata Dembélé , €200,000 as a 40th birthday present . The gesture was presented as emotional and personal.

However, several elements have attracted the attention of the tax administration:

-The high amount of the transfer, considered disproportionate for a simple family gift.

-The time between his mother's birthday and the payment, which would have taken place about six months later .

-the nature of the bank account to which the money was transferred raises questions: it appears to be an undeclared Spanish account , which could constitute a tax offence.

-The professional relationship between the player and his mother also comes into play. At the time, Mrs. Dembélé ran the company Waly Sport , which managed her son's image.

Consequently, the tax authorities consider that this would not be a simple gift.

According to the administration, this amount should be reclassified as taxable income . It therefore requires the payment of additional contributions, the contribution on high incomes , as well as penalties .

Furthermore, the defense firmly contests this reclassification.

Fatimata Dembélé's lawyer, Hubert Lefebvre , maintains that the transfer was indeed a tax-free family gift , made for purely personal reasons. He adds that Ousmane's mother never tried to conceal the transaction, and that the accusations are unfounded .

At this stage , the decision now rests with the administrative court of Rennes, responsible for assessing whether the transfer constitutes an exempt donation or taxable income.

Pending judgment, this case is already beginning to generate buzz, gaining visibility in the media and on social networks, to the point of arousing growing interest well beyond legal circles.