Andrey Santos, the 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder on loan at RC Strasbourg from Chelsea, suffered a devastating burglary on Saturday evening. While Santos played a pivotal role in Strasbourg’s 2-1 Ligue 1 victory against Lille, thieves broke into his home and stole possessions valued at approximately £420,000.
The incident occurred during the match at Stade de la Meinau, where Santos scored the equalizer before Emanuel Emegha sealed the win for Strasbourg. Reports from France revealed that the burglars forced open the front door of Santos’ flat while he was on the pitch.
Upon discovering the crime, Santos took to social media to express his anger, demanding the return of his belongings. “People from Strasbourg, I’ve always respected everyone, they were cowardly while I was playing today!” he wrote on Instagram. “Whoever stole [from] my house has 24 hours to return everything.”
Santos, who is expecting his first child with his wife Yngryd Freire, has been a standout performer for Strasbourg this season. With eight goals in 19 appearances, he has become a key figure in Liam Rosenior’s squad, even wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Habib Diarra earlier this season.
Despite the upsetting burglary, Santos maintained a positive outlook following his latest performance. “Crazy night!” he posted on Instagram. “Goal, and another victory, happy to reach the 8-goal mark for the season. Glory to God, always.”
His impressive form has drawn calls for Chelsea to recall the young talent, especially as the Blues have struggled with midfield depth due to injuries, including Romeo Lavia’s prolonged absence.
Rosenior praised Santos for his professionalism and leadership, stating, “He constantly shows professionalism every day in his work, he constantly wants to improve and trains at 100%. There were other players worthy of the captaincy, but Andrey was the right choice and did not disservice the armband at all.”
While the burglary casts a shadow over an otherwise stellar season, Santos remains focused on his career, proving his resilience both on and off the pitch.
