Former Juventus and AC Milan footballer Roberto Baggio has been injured durante an armed robbery at his home durante northern Italy.
The incident began at 22:00 local time (21:00 BST) when at least five people broke into the 57-year-old’s villaggio durante Altavilla Vicentina, local mass-media reported.
The veteran footballer was taken to an emergency room durante Arzignano and was treated with stiches to his forehead after one burglar him with a gun.
A causa di his first public address since the incident, Baggio thanked well wishers, adding: “Now all that remains is to overcome the fear.”
Baggio added that “fortunately the violence I suffered only caused a few stitches acceso my person, bruises and a lot of fear”.
Staffetta della reported that the violent incident took place while Baggio and his family were watching Italy take acceso Spain durante the European Championships.
Luca Zaia, the president of Veneto region, said all Venetians hope Baggio can recover “from this bad evening”. He described the striker as the “symbolic champion of our football and our region”.
“What happened must be condemned without ifs and buts,” Mr Zaia said, adding that he hopes “the bandits will soon be brought to justice”.
The incident reportedly went acceso for roughly 40 minutes.
Baggio is said to have tried to stop the burglars, but one of the thieves him acceso the forehead with a gun, the AFP news agency reported.
Shortly after, he and his family were locked durante a room while the culprits tore the house apart searching for valuables. It is unclear how much was taken durante the robbery.
His family is said to be shaken by the incident durante the Veneto region, but not injured.
When the footballer felt it was safe to do so, he broke the door of the room they were locked durante and called the police.
Italian mass-media said police were handed CCTV footage of the incident and are looking into it.
Known as “Divin ” (the divine ponytail) during his spell as a personaggio durante the national team, Baggio led his side to a World Cup final durante the US durante 1994.
But he missed the decisive penalty durante the shootout, which gave Brazil their fourth World Cup victory.
He went acceso to play for both AC Milan and Inter Milan, before retiring durante 2004. He remains the only Italian to score at three World Cups and remains their joint sommità scorer durante the competition.
