Ronaldinho Gaúcho said, in his first interview since he was released from prison, that he was surprised that he was arrested in Paraguay for travelling with fake passports.
Recall that the 40-year-old Brazilian football legend and his brother Roberto Assis were arrested, imprisoned and charged for allegedly travelling from Brazil to Paraguay with fake passports in March 2020.
The former Barcelona superstar and his brother were released after spending 32 days in prison. However, they were not permitted to leave the country but to stay in a hotel until their trial is over.
Ronaldinho who was made a football ambassador for Barcelona since he retired from active football, has been relatively stuck in the hotel as the trial could not continue as planned due to the coronavirus pandemic which has forced the country into lockdown.
However, a Paraguayan television network ABC Color was able to squeeze out an interview from the former world best footballer in his hotel room.
Ronaldinho says his documents were legal
He told the media outfit that he and his brother have decided to help the justice system in the country to clarify that he didn’t travel with fake documents as it is being alleged by Paraguay’s authorities.
The football icon said having to spend over a month in prison was a very hard blow he never expected could happen to him.
“We were totally surprised to learn that the documents were not legal. Since then our intention has been to collaborate with the justice system to clarify the facts”, Ronaldinho said.
“From that moment until today, we have explained everything and facilitated everything that has been requested of us.
“It was a hard blow, I never imagined that I would go through such a situation. All my life I have sought to reach the highest professional level and bring joy to people with my football.”
He noted in the interview that once he is done with the trails in Paraguay, the first thing he would do is to go to his mother and give her a kiss.
“The first thing will be to give a big kiss to my mother who has lived through these difficult days since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in her home, then it will be to absorb the impact that this situation has generated and move forward with faith and strength”, he added.
