"I'm an honest person, and I don't want to put anyone in a difficult situation," Saint-Maximin said on the Zack en Roue Libre podcast on 5/7. "But it's time to stop being afraid of anything. Fenerbahce tried to force me to use banned substances, injecting me with nonsense. I encountered some crazy situations at Fenerbahce, which definitely affected me."

Allan Saint-Maximin playing for Fenerbahce during the 2024-2025 season. Photo: L'Equipe

During the 2024-2025 season, Saint-Maximin played for Fenerbahce on loan from Al Ahli. The 28-year-old winger performed well in the first half of the season but gradually declined and his relationship with Mourinho deteriorated. Mourinho excluded Saint-Maximin from the squad for the Europa League round of 16 match against Rangers in March. The Portuguese manager also publicly criticized Saint-Maximin's weight and training habits.

The French winger praised the fans and then spoke about conspiracies, threats, and a lack of empathy from the club. According to Saint-Maximin, Fenerbahce showed no concern when his father was hospitalized and critically ill.

"Their only concern was the upcoming important match. But where is the human aspect? When I'm at my lowest, protect me, right?" the former Newcastle star complained.

Manager Jose Mourinho reacts during Fenerbahce's 2-1 victory over Konyaspor at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in round 36 of the Turkish Super Lig. Photo: Anadolu

According to Saint-Maximin, the turmoil he experienced at Fenerbahce was the main reason for his decline in form, to the point that he had to speak directly with Mourinho.

"Despite that, I tried to perform my best," Saint-Maximin emphasized. "I spoke with Mourinho, an excellent manager whom I respect greatly. He helped me improve, but unfortunately, we didn't achieve our goals. They also put many obstacles in his path."

Fenerbahce subsequently released a statement expressing astonishment at Saint-Maximin's remarks and declared their readiness to take legal action.

"Distorting the truth about medical treatment after a health issue is an attempt to damage the club's reputation. We will exercise all legal rights against any false or distorted statements regarding the team's reputation," the statement read.

Saint-Maximin began his career at Saint-Etienne and later played for Monaco, Hannover 96, Bastia, and Nice. He played for Newcastle from 2019 to 2023, scoring 13 goals in 124 matches. The French player then moved to Al-Ahli and joined Fenerbahce on loan last season, scoring 4 goals in 31 matches.

Mourinho also took charge of Fenerbahce in the summer of 2024. He didn't win any trophies in his first season in Turkey, with the team finishing second in the Super Lig, losing to Galatasaray in the quarterfinals of the Turkish Cup, and exiting the Europa League in the round of 16.

Hong Duy (According to Marca)