'Angry' and 'very sad' Antony has home burgled while he plays in Champions League - as former Man United star bemoans 'unease in my family's eyes' in emotional message

Former Manchester United star Antony has revealed his house was burgled while he was playing in the Champions League this week. 

The Brazilian, 26, was substituted late on during Real Betis' 3-2 victory over Porto on Tuesday after providing an assist for Cucho Hernandez's equaliser in the clash. 

It proved to be a great night for Antony's side after Isco's late winner as they made it two wins from two on their return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

However, on Thursday he took to social media to share the horrifying news that during the match, his house had been broken into. 

Antony added that although he was frustrated at what had been taken, he was more concerned about the fear the ordeal had struck into his family.

In a post on his Instagram story, he said: 'Today, I want to talk about something that made me very sad and angry. 

'What should have been a beautiful night ended in anger and frustration. My house was robbed.

'It's hard to describe the feeling of having your home broken into. Everything we worked so hard for and poured our hearts into obtaining was taken by someone who has no idea how much hardship we went through to get it.

'The most infuriating thing is not just the loss of belongings, but the loss of security in a place where we should feel most protected, and seeing the unease in my family's eyes. But after all this, one thing makes me even more certain: in this world, no possession is more precious than the lives and safety of my family.'

Antony's post continued with an inspiring message and a determination to bounce back from the setback.  

He added: 'What was lost, we can earn back. The effort will not stop, the dream remains, and the determination to win has not diminished in the slightest. 

'What truly matters is that when I look at my family, I know we are still together, united, and have the strength to overcome this difficulty.

'The unease and anger still linger, but I am also more certain: our greatest wealth has never been the items in the house, but the loved ones who make it a home, because ultimately, my greatest achievement in life will always be my family.'

Antony grew up in poverty in a favela in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and during his time at Old Trafford, he opened up on his traumatic upbringing.

'It's difficult for me to talk about my background,' he said in 2024. 'It's not by chance I have the favela where I grew up tattooed across my back and always play with "favela" written on my boots. The favela is always with me.

'I'll never let anyone else write my story or let people put me down as I genuinely know what it's like to be at the bottom.

'There were times when I didn't have boots to play football in, times when there wasn't enough to eat. I didn't have a bedroom - I slept on the sofa in the living room. My house would flood when it rained heavily.

'I saw a lot of friends go down another path and some of them lost their lives. I know what I went through; I know what my mother, father, brother and sister suffered together with me.'

Unfortunately, Antony is not the first high-level footballer to suffer a robbery while in action.

A similar fate befell Man City captain Ruben Dias in January of this year when his home was burgled at the same time City were playing Galatasaray in the Champions League. 

Real Madrid icon Karim Benzema also saw his home targeted by burglars during matches in 2019 and 2022, while Raheem Sterling's property was robbed in 2022 when he was at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar representing England.