Italian soccer legend Roberto Baggio has opened up in regards to the ‘violence’ he and his household suffered after armed robbers launched a ‘lighting assault’ towards them as they watched the Euro 2024 match between Spain and Italy of their dwelling.
Baggio, 57, was at his dwelling in Altavilla Vicentina, a small city in northern Italy that lies roughly an hour’s drive away from Venice, at round 10pm native time final evening when the gang of 5 broke in.
Whereas Il Divin Codino, The Divine Ponytail in English, tried to battle the thugs off, he was hit within the head with the butt of a gun earlier than he and his household, made up of his spouse, two sons, his mother- and brother-in regulation, have been locked in a room.
The robbers stole watches, jewelry and cash, the worth of which isn’t at present identified, from the remoted agricultural property which he and his household have lived in for 15 years.
The Ballon d’Or winner, who scored 27 objectives in 56 caps for his nationwide staff was capable of break his household out of the room they have been locked in, however not earlier than the robbers received away. Corriere della Sera reported that the theft occurred over 40 minutes.
Baggio was seen stalking the grounds of his property at present sporting a bandage on his head following the remedy he suffered by the hands of the robbers.
He married his long-time accomplice Andreina Fabbi (pictured) in 1989
Baggio was left with stitches in brow (Pictured in a match towards Spain in 2004)
The couple had three youngsters collectively – Valentina (pictured, centre-left), born in 1990, Mattia (pictured, centre-right), born in 1994, and Leonardo (pictured, left), born in 2005
Baggio, 57, was at his dwelling in Altavilla Vicentina, a small city in northern Italy that lies roughly an hour’s drive away from Venice, at round 10pm native time when the gang of 5 broke in
Investigating cops have been handed CCTV footage to help their inquiry.
Baggio, in the meantime, needed to go to a hospital in Arzignano, roughly eight miles from his dwelling, to be handled for his brow harm, for which he was given stitches.
Chatting with Italian media by means of his agent Vittorio Petrone, Baggio stated: ‘To begin with, my household and I want to thank everybody for the nice love now we have obtained. Thanks very a lot.’
‘In related circumstances, something can occur, and happily the violence suffered solely generated a couple of stitches to my particular person, bruises and numerous concern. Now all that continues to be is to beat the concern.’
Mr Petrone informed Italian media: ‘The lightning assault, in full gentle, didn’t permit the activation of all the perfect safety methods with which the villa is provided.
‘Now, from what occurred, we are going to additional strengthen the daytime detection methods all through the complete perimeter.
‘Solely if you find yourself hit do you understand the injuries left by an episode of violence and oppression suffered in your house, collectively together with his household Roberto as soon as once more amazed me with the readability and energy of spirit he expressed instantly following the assault he suffered.
‘I’m certain that Roberto will as soon as once more be the pillar on which his total household can lean on to depart this behind brutal assault. The investigators are working intensely to carry the culprits to justice.’
Diego Fabbi, Baggio’s brother-in-law, informed reporters outdoors the villa that he and the remainder of the household have not spoken in regards to the stunning assault.
‘We talked little about what occurred. They have been all watching the match collectively when the shot occurred. The place did they arrive in from? That is the issue. We do not know, the criminals discovered themselves in the lounge.
‘Roberto’s two sons have been there and in addition my mom. The criminals spoke little, it was not clear the place they have been coming from however they acted properly with their arms, beating Roberto. I can not say anything.’
Whereas not one of the household aside from Roberto have been damage, they have been left terrified by the incident at their dwelling, which reportedly sits on an remoted plot of land surrounded by countryside and woodland.
The homestead, a country nation farmhouse, is fabricated from a number of flooring that have been designed to accommodate his household an agricultural firm.
The central corridor of the house overlooks the huge backyard, which hosts a number of braziers used for cooking meat outdoors in addition to a pergola.
The house additionally has a non-public fitness center that the household makes use of to take care of bodily well-being.
The Italian legend spent his total 22-year sporting profession in Italy, taking part in for the nation’s three most adorned golf equipment, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan, in addition to different smaller golf equipment.
Whereas he received two Serie A titles on this time, his legacy was considerably stained by his notorious penalty miss on the last of the 1994 World Cup towards Brazil.
A 1985 harm, simply three years into his profession, threatened to finish his time as a footballer. The incident profoundly modified him, and he transformed from Catholicism to Buddhism.
Baggio and his household (pictured) have been locked in a room by the robbers
Roberto Baggio (pictured) needed to go to hospital to be handled for his brow harm, for which he was given stitches
Baggio spent his total 22-year sporting profession in Italy
He’s typically thought of one of many world’s biggest gamers (Pictured within the entrance row alongside different Italian soccer legends on June 3)
Baggio was referred to as The Divine Ponytail, a moniker he waa given for his outlandish haircut
His faith turned such a deep a part of his identification that he proudly wore the colors of his non secular college, Nichiren Buddhism, on his captain’s armband.
The band additionally bore the Japanese motto ‘We win. We should win.’
His sturdy Buddhist perception allowed him to forge a powerful tie to Japan, the place he’s fashionable. Baggio has appeared in a number of football-themed cartoons and video video games printed within the nation.
However he has by no means let go of his Catholic roots, marrying his long-time accomplice Andreina Fabbi in 1989 in a Catholic ceremony.
The couple had three youngsters collectively – Valentina, born in 1990, Mattia, born in 1994, and Leonardo, born in 2005.
On prime of being a profitable footballer, he was a businessman, proudly owning a sports activities items retailer in Thiene, Vicenza, known as Baggio Sport which needed to shut down in 2012 following a collection of losses after the 2008 international recession.
His youngsters all reside with him on their distant property in northern Italy
Regardless of his perception in Buddhism, he married his spouse in a Roman Catholic ceremony
After retiring from soccer, he turned a high-ranking officers in Italy’s Soccer Federation, presiding over the organisation’s technical part.
However in 2013, after three years within the job, he resigning claiming that the sporting physique didn’t take heed to his suggestions on tips on how to nurture younger expertise.
Outdoors of soccer, he’s closely concerned in charity work. He was named a Goodwill Ambassador of the UN’s Meals and Agriculture organisation, and helped fund hospitals, elevate cash for catastrophe victims and raised funds to sort out hen flu.
The Divine Ponytail has additionally used his footballing abilities to boost cash for charity, participating in a number of fundraising matches, together with a 2008 pleasant between Milan and Florentina that raised cash for ALS remedy.
He additionally took half within the 2014 Match for Peace in Rome, to boost cash for Scholas, a mission aiming to attach colleges and academic networks from totally different cultures and beliefs from world wide.
Baggio performed alongside Diego Maradona, Carlos Valderrama, Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi and Andrea Pirlo.
He was given the 2010 Man of Peace award for his charity and social justice work, which was introduced by the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Hiroshima, Japan.
Baggio can be a eager hunter, and owns a ranch in Rivera within the southwest of Argentina the place he hunts wild recreation.
