The star of Barcelona, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, along with his family, has been moved to a luxurious hotel following a violent robbery incident, despite turning down the suggestion of hiring 24-hour security.
Aubameyang was reportedly attacked by a group of four men who threatened him with firearms and iron bars in front of his wife Alysha Behague and their two frightened children.
The thieves made away with jewels after Aubameyang was compelled to open a safe within their residence in Castelldefels, a coastal town situated to the south of Barcelona.
Aubameyang, aged 33, was struck on the chin with an iron bar, while Behague suffered a blow to the head. Despite this, they opted not to seek hospital treatment so as not to further distress their children.
According to Catalan news outlet ARA, Barcelona relocated them to the luxurious Princesa Sofia hotel and provided them with psychological counseling.
Their children, Curtys, 11, and Pierre, six, witnessed their parents being held on the ground while the robbers searched the house in the early hours of Monday morning.
The culprits were able to easily scale a garden fence to gain entry and fled in a white Audi A3.
Authorities are searching for the attackers and suspect they are part of an organized gang of Kosovar Albanians.
ARA also reported that Babanzila Meshak, a young Gabonese footballer who plays for Terrassa, a fourth-tier side, and has been residing at Aubameyang’s house, was present during the robbery but escaped unharmed.
This incident occurs as Aubameyang is being linked to a potential return to the Premier League with Chelsea, just seven months after departing from Arsenal following disputes with Gunners manager Mikel Arteta due to disciplinary infractions.