Lyon declare Valbuena is still alive
Rumours on Twitter prompted Lyon to issue a denial that attacking midfielder Mathieu Valbuena had died.
Lyon have issued a statement declaring attacking midfielder Mathieu Valbuena is still alive.
Twitter trolls claimed the 32-year-old had died in a string of posts the Ligue 1 club described as "shameful" as they issued a denial.
"Mathieu Valbuena is fortunately alive contrary to what vile individuals peddle on Twitter," read the club's own Twitter post on Monday.
"Olympique Lyonnais is horrified at such a shameful and inhuman act."
Valbuena is currently injured after undergoing an operation on a dislocated shoulder suffered earlier this month.
Mathieu Valbuena est heureusement bien vivant contrairement à ce que d’ignobles individus colportent sur twitter. (1/2) October 31, 2016
L’Olympique Lyonnais est horrifié devant de tels agissement honteux et inhumains. (2/2)October 31, 2016
Prior to the bizarre claims he had passed away, the France international has already had a dramatic year.
He was not selected by Didier Deschamps for Euro 2016 on home soil earlier this year and recently spoke of his desire to move past what had been a "s*** year" personally and professionally.
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His compatriot Karim Benzema, infamously, was also absent from the European Championship after being charged as part of an investigation into an alleged attempt to blackmail Valbuena over a sex tape.