Valencia’s rising star crashes: offloaded after shocking allegations

Mayssam Benama’s Valencia Mestalla stint ended abruptly, swallowed by a maelstrom of legal trouble and a devastating injury.

A captain’s fall from grace

The French U-20 international, previously a key figure and captain for the club, was swiftly released following a domestic violence investigation and a serious traffic accident. Marca has confirmed the club terminated his contract, a move far from a considered decision.

It began with a police raid on Benama’s home, triggered by a neighbor’s complaint of a ferocious argument. The resulting arrest and subsequent judicial proceedings revealed a troubling picture: not just allegations of domestic abuse – a denial from the player’s partner – but also a criminal charge linked to a fatal car crash. The couple reportedly returned to France immediately after the incident.

Benama, attempting to reach his partner, was involved in a severe collision. He spent weeks in intensive care, a stark reminder of the personal fallout consuming his career. The Valencia board, faced with mounting pressure and a player effectively sidelined, reached an agreement to rescind his contract, allowing him to return to France as a free agent.

Since that fateful week, Benama has purged his social media presence – a telling sign of the immense pressure he’s enduring. Initially a starter under Miguel Ángel Angulo, he vanished from the 28th-minute onwards, a casualty of events too explosive to ignore. His time with the club was remarkably brief, just five appearances in the reserve team, though he started three of them. The case remains ongoing, and the repercussions extend far beyond the pitch.