Julius OkorieFormer Italy superstar, Roberto Baggio, was robbed at gunpoint while watching his country’s Euro Championship clash against Spain at his home on Thursday, it has been revealed.
Baggio was also injured during the robbery and had to be given stitches after being struck with the barrel of a gun.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Associated Press report that Baggio’s villa, near Vicenza,was broken into by at least five gun-wielding intruders around 10pm on Thursday night, striking the former AC Milan and Juventus forward in the head with the butt of a gun when he attempted to confront them.
Baggio and his family were then locked in a room, while the intruders who broke the door in the process stole valuables, including cash, watches and jewelries.
After the robbers’ departure, 57-year-old Baggio later required stitches for his wound, but his family members were thankfully unharmed.
Baggio enjoyed a glittering but injury-hit career, turning out for seven different Italian clubs over a 22-year career: Vicenza, Fiorentina, Juventus, Milan, Bologna, Inter and Brescia.
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An extremely skilful and clinical number 10, Baggio came to global attention for his superb performances at the 1990 World Cup, which precipitated a move to Juve for a then-world record £8m transfer fee later that summer that caused riots on the streets of Florence.
Baggio shone again for Italy at the 1994 World Cup, but missed the decisive penalty in the final against Brazil, later coming second in the running for that year’s Ballon d’Or.
Once nicknamed ‘The Divine Ponytail’ for his distinctive longer hairstyle – shorn off in his later playing days – Baggio consistently features in the list of the greatest players of the 20th century and of all time and was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Unfortunately, in what could pass for additional migraine for Baggio, the match he was watching did not end well, as Coach Luciano Spalletti’s side failed to impress in their second outing at the European Championship, falling to la Roja in a tough 1-0 defeat after a Riccardo Calafiori own goal in the 55th minute, leaving the team second in the group with three points.
The Azzuris will need to dig deep in their last group match against Croatia on Monday.
Italy won the 2020 edition of the Euro Championship, beating England 3-2 on penalties after the encounter had ended 1-1 and regulation and extra time at the Wembley Stadium.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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