Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes returned from a 4-1 defeat to Como on Wednesday night to discover that his £4million mansion in Cheshire had been burgled by three masked men.
The break-in occurred at his property in Nether Alderley at around 8.30pm on Wednesday 21 October, while Fernandes was away in Italy for the match. The burglars reportedly climbed over the rear fence of the garden, which adjoins woodland, before escaping with stolen items.
Police called by neighbour
A neighbour alerted police after seeing three suspicious men. Officers attended the scene but found no trace of the suspects on arrival, later discovering that a burglary had taken place and a number of items had been stolen.
The property was equipped with security measures including alarms, CCTV and an electric gate, but the suspects still managed to flee. It remains unclear whether Fernandes' wife Ana Pinho and their two young children were at home during the incident.
Investigation underway
A Cheshire Police spokesman confirmed: "At around 8.30pm on Wednesday 21 October, police were called to reports of suspicious activity at an address in the Alderley Park area of Nether Alderley.
"The caller reported three unknown men in the rear garden of a neighbouring property. Officers attended the scene and on arrival there was no trace of the suspects. However, officers discovered that there had been a burglary at the address and a number of items had been stolen."
Detective Inspector David Jarvis, of Macclesfield Proactive CID, commented: "This investigation is in its early stages at this time, and we're committed to doing all we can to trace the people responsible.
"As part of our enquiries, we're keen to hear from anyone who was in the local area at the time and believes they may have witnessed anything suspicious."
Defeat adds to pressure
The burglary came hours after United suffered a humiliating 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Como in northern Italy. The heavy defeat prompted Fernandes to publicly criticise manager Michael Carrick's tactical approach, accusing the club of being rooted in the past.
The Red Devils return to domestic action on Sunday when they host Bournemouth at Old Trafford, with Carrick facing mounting pressure to turn results around.
