Chris Smalling has confirmed he and his family were unharmed after being robbed at gunpoint in their Italian home this week.
The former Manchester United defender, who now plays for Roma, said they were left ‘shaken’ after hooded and masked burglars broke into their villa and stole watches, jewellery and cash.
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The ex-England international thanked fans for their well wishes, with old teammate Marcus Rashford along those sending messages of support to the footballer and his family.
But his wife had a stronger message to the thieves, who she branded ‘rats’ and warned other robbers about targeting them again.
Smalling and wife Sam Cooke endured a terrifying ordeal in the early hours of Friday morning when they were woken up by armed burglars.
The 31-year-old former United and Fulham centre-back was forced to open the family’s personal safe as three men targeted his property in the south of the Italian capital, where he has lived for a year.
Smalling and Cooke’s two-year-old Son, Leo, was also in the property at the time, as well as the footballer’s mother and sister.
Cooke is said to have called the police at 5am on Friday morning, with officers arriving on the scene shortly afterwards.
Smalling took to social media on Saturday morning to respond to the news, and assured fans he and his family were not harmed in the ordeal.
The ex-United man posted on Twitter: “I’d like to thank everyone for your well wishes and support! My family although very shaken up are luckily unharmed!
“Hoping these people can find a more meaningful way to live their lives without causing such harm and distress to others.”
Cooke has also spoken out over the ordeal, saying her husband handled the situation ‘very well’ as she branded the burglars ‘rats’.
“Thanks so much for all your well wishes,” the model posted in Instagram.
“Although still a bit shaken my family are all OK. My husband handled the situation very well.
“I’d just like to suggest that those living their lives like these thieves who came into our bedroom at 4am pointing guns at our heads, rethink their choices in life and live in a more respectable and conscious way like real men, not rats (disrespectful to rats I know).
“I suspect your life hasn’t been easy but there’s always another way. A way that will lead to blessings and not karma biting you on the ass, which I’ve no doubt it will!
“And for the record, anyone thinking of coming near me and my family again, we have no jewellery or watches left and don’t intend to buy any more!
“If you see us wearing anything it’s likely fake. So don’t bother.”
@samsmallinginsta
Smalling joined Roma initially on loan in 2019 and went on to sign for the Serie A permanently a year later, ending a ten-year career at Man United where he won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, EFL Cup and the Europa League.
The defender first moved out to Rome on his own, living in a hotel during his loan spell, before he and his wife purchased a 700 year old villa in the historic Appia Antica area of the city, where they have lived for a year.
He has been injured for large parts of the season, and did not play in Thursday night’s Europa League clash against Ajax.
The 1-1 draw in Rome booked the Italian side a place in the semi-finals of the competition, as they ran out 3-2 winners on aggregate, and they will face Smalling’s former club Man United in the last four.
News of the robbery comes after fellow Serie A star, United States international Weston McKennie, was burgled while he was playing for Juventus back in January.
In November last year, thieves also broke into Roma manager Paulo Fonseca’s home on the eve of the side’s clash against Fiorentina.
Robbers are said to have stolen an estimated €100,000 worth of valuables from the coach’s home.
Fortunately though, he and his family were not present for the burglary.
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