French Aston Villa star pauses Marbella holiday to send emotional message to Paris after teen killed by police

Aston Villa star paused his off-season holiday in Marbella to share a message of mourning to his homeland of France after the nation was rocked by the death of a 17-year-old boy on the outskirts of Paris.

The teenager, known as Nael M, was shot by police at the wheel of a Mercedes in the western suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday. The killing has caused widespread disturbances and riots across Paris with renewed tension between police and the 'banlieu' areas outside the capital's centre.

Digne is currently relaxing in Spain alongside wife Tiziri Digne and their two children with the family enjoying beach days and meals out between the defender's fitness sessions on a local pitch.

Taking a break from the holiday, the Villa man shared a message of support for the people of France. He wrote: "How to defend the indefensible? All my thoughts are with the friends and family of Nael."

Digne becomes the latest French footballing star to comment on the killing of Nael, joining Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe and AC Milan man Mike Maignan.

Mbappe, who grew up in the Paris banlieu, wrote: “I hurt for my France. Unacceptable situation. All my thoughts go to the family and loved ones of Nael, this little angel gone much too soon,”

Maignan added: "A bullet in the head … It’s always for the same people that being in the wrong leads to death.”

The grieving grandmother of Nael, who has asked not to be named, has said she will 'never forgive' police after the tragedy. She said: “I will never forgive them. My grandson died, they killed my grandson. We are not happy at all, I am against the government.

“They killed my grandson, now I don’t care about anyone, they took my grandson from me, I will never forgive them in my life, never, never, never.”