Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes’ home in Cheshire, England, was burgled while the midfielder was in Italy with his club for their match against Como, the BBC reported on Thursday.
The burglary occurred on Wednesday evening, October 21, when the 32-year-old Portugal international was away for Manchester United’s fixture against the Italian side.
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According to the BBC, Fernandes’ family were not at home when the intruders entered the property.
The suspects reportedly spent less than five minutes inside before police arrived.
Cheshire Police confirmed that officers responded to reports of suspicious activity after a caller reported seeing “three unknown men in the rear garden of a neighbouring property”.
The force confirmed that a burglary had taken place at the address but said it could neither confirm nor deny the identity of the victim.
Detective Inspector David Jarvis of Macclesfield Proactive CID said the investigation was at an early stage, adding that officers were working to identify those responsible.
“The investigation is in its early stages at this time, and we’re committed to doing all we can to trace the people responsible,” he said.
The BBC also reported that Manchester United were supporting Fernandes following the incident.
The burglary adds to a series of reported break-ins targeting footballers’ homes while they are away on club duty.
Manchester City midfielder Ruben Dias and his former girlfriend, Maya Jama, were victims of a similar incident while Dias was away for a Champions League match against Galatasaray in January.
Other footballers whose homes have reportedly been burgled in the same area include Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez.
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Fernandes’ burglary came on a difficult evening for Manchester United, who lost 4-1 to Como on Wednesday.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
