Bruno Fernandes returned from Manchester United's humiliating loss to Como on Wednesday to discover that his home had been targeted by burglars.
Fernandes grabbed attention on Wednesday for publicly criticizing United manager Michael Carrick's tactical approach following their 4-1 demolition in northern Italy. The misery on the field was then compounded by devastating news from back home.
The United captain's £4 million ($5.4 million) mansion in Cheshire was broken into by three masked individuals on Wednesday. His residence in Nether Alderley was targeted by the thieves at 8.30pm local time.
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As first reported by The Sun, one of Fernandes' neighbors alerted police after noticing three suspicious individuals nearby. It is believed they climbed over the backyard fence, which borders woodland, before fleeing with stolen valuables.
The intruders managed to escape, despite the property being equipped with an advanced security system featuring alarms, CCTV, and an electric gate. It remains unclear whether Fernandes' partner, Ana Pinho, and their two young children were present in the house at the time of the break-in.
Mirror Football have contacted Fernandes' representatives and Manchester United to request comment.
A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: "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."
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Detective Inspector David Jarvis, of Macclesfield Proactive CID, added: "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."
The incident occurred while Fernandes was away in Como, featuring in a dismal loss. United were hammered 4-1, prompting Fernandes to publicly criticize Carrick's approach and accuse the club of being rooted in the past.
United return to action against AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Carrick facing mounting pressure to deliver a positive result.