Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison has called on Brazilian federal police to investigate Senator Flavio Bolsonaro over allegations that he unlawfully took possession of his private island. The player claims Bolsonaro obtained the island without making any payment, a situation he detailed in a video posted on social media.
The island was purchased by Richarlison between 2020 and 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the player, several potential buyers expressed interest, but he declined to sell. Flavio Bolsonaro was among those interested, and Richarlison said Bolsonaro even used a drone to film the island from above, with the video appearing on his Instagram.
Allegations of Unlawful Possession
In the video, Richarlison said: "Between 2020 and 2021, I bought the island. Several potential buyers then came forward, but I didn't want to sell it. Flavio Bolsonaro was among those interested. He even used a drone to film the island from above, and there's a video of it on his Instagram."
He added: "But I didn't want to sell the island to him and they took advantage of the situation in court. We were sorting out the paperwork (documentation for the island's ownership), and they said it would take months or even years to resolve."
Richarlison alleged that Flavio Bolsonaro and a man named Willian Tomas took possession of the island within 24 hours. He stated: "Flavio Bolsonaro and this guy Willian Tomas went there and, in 24 hours, took possession of the island. That's where the justice system failed. Those guys took the island without spending a penny, as far as I know. I have not received a penny and I spent around R$ 10 million (around £1.5million) there and received nothing."
Appeal for Investigation
The player made a direct appeal to federal police, saying: "I'm asking the federal police to help and investigate this properly because we want answers. I want to recover my money, not get the island back. If I do get the money back, I'll donate part of it to a hospital in my hometown to help them. I just want what's rightfully mine, which I earned through hard work."
Richarlison also called on his supporters to press Bolsonaro for explanations ahead of the presidential run-off against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, scheduled for Sunday, October 25.
Difficult Season at Tottenham
The incident comes during a challenging period for Richarlison at Tottenham. He was left out of Roberto De Zerbi's 25-man Premier League squad after attempting to engineer a departure from the club during the summer transfer window. He also appeared to clash publicly with De Zerbi, posting on social media an article that suggested a 'fight' had taken place between the forward and his boss.
Richarlison has since played for Tottenham's Under-21s, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw against Cheltenham Town in the Jersey Mike's Trophy, though the League Two side won on penalties. His only Premier League appearance this season came in a 3-0 defeat to Brentford, where he lasted 68 minutes before being substituted. He has subsequently been left out of the senior squad.
