A former footballer for Juventus and AC Milan, Roberto Baggio, sustained injuries during an armed robbery in his home in northern Italy.
According to local media, the incident occurred at 10:00 PM local time (9:00 PM WAT) when a group of at least five individuals forcibly entered the 57-year-old’s residence in Altavilla Vicentina.
Following the break-in, the retired footballer was transported to an emergency room in Arzignano, where he received stitches on his forehead after being struck by one of the robbers with a firearm.
In his first public statement since the incident, Baggio expressed gratitude to those who sent their well wishes, mentioning that “Now all that remains is to overcome the fear.”
Baggio added that “fortunately the violence I suffered only caused a few stitches on my person, bruises and a lot of fear.”
Corriere della Sera reported that the violent incident occurred while Roberto Baggio and his family were watching the Italy vs. Spain match in the European Championships.
Luca Zaia, the president of the Veneto region, expressed hope that Baggio can recover from the traumatic experience. He referred to the former footballer as a symbolic champion of both regional football and the Veneto area.
“What happened must be condemned without ifs and buts,” Mr Zaia said, adding that he hopes “the bandits will soon be brought to justice.”
According to reports, the ordeal lasted approximately 40 minutes.
During the break-in, Baggio attempted to intervene but was struck on the forehead with a gun by one of the thieves, as reported by AFP.
Following the assault, Baggio and his family were confined to a room while the burglars ransacked the house in search of valuables. The extent of what was stolen remains unclear.
Although shaken by the events in the Veneto region, Baggio’s family members were thankfully unharmed.
Once Baggio felt it was safe, he managed to break down the locked door and contact the police.
Italian media reported that authorities have obtained CCTV footage of the incident and are actively investigating.
Nancy Mbamalu
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