Some worrying news emerged on Friday morning stating that ex-England player Chris Smalling has been held by ARMED robbers inside his own home.
The 31 year old was burgled at home in front of his wife and two-year-old child in a horrifying ordeal for the Roma defender, according to reports.
Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport claims three armed robbers broke into the footballer’s property and forced him to open his family’s safe, where the aggressors took items of jewellery and other valuable items.
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Smalling’s wife, Sam, is said to have called the police at around 5am in the morning and officers arrived at the Smalling family’s villa, located around 25 miles south of Rome, with the family all incredibly distressed.
Police are still investigating the incident and Roma have offered the support out to the player and his wife as they try to deal with what happened.
Smalling, who joined the Serie A club from Premier League outfit Manchester United on a permanent deal last year, was not involved in Roma’s Europa League tie with Ajax at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night due to a knee injury.
The defender has been playing in Rome since the summer of 2019, joining on an initial loan deal before making the move permanent 12 months later.
He lives with his wife Sam, 35, a glamour model from Manchester. The couple have been married since June 2017 and welcomed their young son Leo just before they moved abroad.
Smalling spoke about having his wife’s support on moving to Rome despite her having to leave her hometown for her husband’s career.
He told The Athletic in October 2019: ‘My wife has always been supportive. She said: “If you want to move, we’ll all move. We’ll do what’s best for your football.” I knew she’d say that, which I appreciated.
‘So I moved. I lived in a hotel for a month and we moved into a beautiful house last week. It’s 700 hundred years old, just outside Rome. It’s surrounded by greenery which is important with our dogs. Everyone is here now and that feels good.’
Smalling has recently been linked with a move away from Roma at the end of the season with Juventus and Inter Milan said to be interested.
Thinking about you @ChrisSmalling and your lovely family. So sorry to wake up to the news this morning. Can’t imagine how you’re feeling but I hope you’re ok ♥️
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) April 16, 2021
Fans reacted after seeing that Chris Smalling has been held by ARMED robbers inside his own home…
@RichfxMathew: Jeez, WTF. Hope they are all ok
@InsqneMagic: I really hope Smalling and his family is okay. It’s absolutely disgraceful that footballers need to get private security nowadays. @ChrisSmalling I hope you and your family will recover soon.
@_mufcjay: We’re all with you @ChrisSmalling stay strong ❤️🙏🏼
@andy_maguire: thoughts with you and your family Chris must been horrific experience hope everyone is okay. Once a red always a red
@TheBusbyWay2: Hope Chris Smalling and family are ok. Awful to hear what happened, becoming all too frequent as well
@BenKAttwell: This is disgusting. Hope you and your family are ok @ChrisSmalling. Hopefully they will find the scum who did this to you.
@Stueyp732: @ChrisSmalling @MarcusRashford @dipsMUFC whats wrong with some people they can’t leave another human alone my thoughts are with the smalling family
@lukesellers98: Fuck sake this is dreadful. Stay safe @ChrisSmalling ❤️ #MUFC
@scottm9633: Thoughts with @ChrisSmalling and his family. This is disgusting
@DanielThapa5: stay strong @ChrisSmalling
@Danielb60239398: Praying his wife and kid and Chris are okay
@AmadUTD: Wtf!! Wow, that’s scary. Hope they are alright
@Clixian: This is becoming a regular occurrence! Players need to invest in heightened security for their family.
@nicktheredG: Thoughts are with Chris and his family ❤️
@McTominatrix: How absolutely terrible. Hope you’re all doing alright @ChrisSmalling
@LegendPeteHolt: If I had their money I reckon I’d pay for private security. Imagine having to go through that with your wife and children. Terrible. Just glad all are safe.
@Veyseylaaa: Absolutely shocking
@AJ_MUFC25: The fuck
@iambatandi: Stay strong @ChrisSmalling ❤️🙏🏾
@lisjt21: fuming, horrible bastards. thoughts are with @ChrisSmalling & his family today.
@RidleyIR: Thoughts with @ChrisSmalling and his family. Can’t begin to imagine how much something like this can affect a family. All the love ❤️
@prasanthmennon: Stay strong @ChrisSmalling
@Benjani_Man9: This world will never amaze me.Human beings these days are the worst kind of living creature on this forsaken earth
@Stephen67042185: Scum!!!! Hope all is ok @ChrisSmalling must be terrifying, they don’t realise the impact they have on people’s lives!!!
The reported incident is the latest in a series of cases where intruders have targeted the homes of Serie A footballers and managers recently.
It also comes 11 months after Tottenham‘s Dele Alli was held at knifepoint and punched by robbers who broke into his house.
The Premier League midfielder reportedly suffered a blow in the face during the ordeal but did not suffer any serious injuries.
Another Spurs player in Harry Kane saw his £100,000 vehicle, a Range Rover, ended up being stolen by thieves back in November 2020.
A gang was believed to have targeted Harry Kane’s vehicle for a while having been filmed driving past it several times.
The culprits got into the car and then subsequently sped off with it from outside an upmarket address in Chingford, East London.
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And just five months ago, thugs threatened to stab a Premier League youngster when robbing his £8k watch in front of his girlfriend.
18-year-old George Nunn was the victim of the terrifying ordeal while he was walking with Libby Thompson, according to reports.
The teenager, who is currently on the books at Chelsea, was robbed by muggers with culprits demanding that the Republic of Ireland under 19s forward should hand over his £8,000 ‘James Bond’ Omega Seamaster watch.
A student, aged 17, from Battersea, South London, got a ten-month community order and was ordered to pay George Nunn a total of £500 in compensation at Highbury Corner Youth Court.
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