Brazilian footballer Richarlison has called for police intervention over a disputed private island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, alleging that presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro took control of the property without compensating him for his investment.
According to a report by The Sun, the Tottenham Hotspur forward acquired the island between 2020 and 2021 and invested approximately 10 million Brazilian reais in the property.
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Richarlison claims he has received no financial return on the investment and alleges that the dispute escalated while ownership documents were still being finalised.
In a video message shared with his audience, the footballer said he had declined to sell the island to Bolsonaro and alleged that legal proceedings were subsequently used against him.
He further claimed that Bolsonaro and an individual identified as Weller Tomas visited the island before taking control of it within 24 hours.
Richarlison questioned how the property could have changed hands without payment and urged the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the dispute.
The footballer also appealed to his supporters to demand accountability from Bolsonaro over the allegations.
Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, reportedly rejected the claims, describing them as fabricated information in a response to a video by Brazilian media personality Juliette, who had criticised his political approach.
Richarlison subsequently responded with a pointed question about the island, keeping the dispute in the public eye.
The allegations have placed the footballer’s substantial property investment at the centre of a contentious dispute involving a prominent political figure.
However, the claims remain allegations, and the available report does not establish a final legal determination on ownership or wrongdoing.
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An official police finding or court ruling would be needed to clarify the circumstances surrounding the property and determine the validity of the competing positions.
