RONALDINHO is “sad and angry but smiling” in jail – and vowing never to go back to Paraguay after his prison hell.
The football icon has been trapped behind bars since he allegedly used a fake passport to enter the South American country.
Ronaldinho poses with his mate Lugo, who visited him in jail and divulged details of his prison life
One friend who visited him in his cell posted a selfie of them smiling and said the Brazil great was a shadow of his former self.
That sentiment has been echoed by Paraguayan footvolley world champion Fernando Lugo, 26, in an interview with Paraguayan newspaper ‘Extra’ after he visited Ronaldinho, 39, at a Specialised Unit prison for three hours.
When speaking about his visit, Lugo said: “A friend is in prison there and he told me Ronaldinho asked for us.”
Describing the football icon’s mood, Lugo said: “He is a little sad but always smiling. I think he is angry.
“He told me, ‘how are they going to do this to me in your country? I am never coming back to Paraguay.’”
When speaking about Ronaldinho’s day-to-day life, Lugo said: “He is not in need of anything, he is well-attended. He eats ‘asado’ every day, he likes it.
Ronaldinho is said to be ‘sad’ in jail but managed a smile alongside former Paraguay striker CuevasCredit: Twitter
“It is not like he is shut in his room all day, he speaks with the guys sitting outside.”
‘Asado’ roughly translates to barbeque and usually consists of meat and fish cooked over coal with side dishes.
Lugo went on to defend Ronaldinho’s innocence saying: “What is happening to him is unfair. Why would he do those things? He is not in need.”
Lugo was referring to reports claiming the former Barcelona superstar could be involved in a money-laundering scheme.
Ronaldinho went to Paraguay to participate in a charity event called ‘Angelical Fraternity’ but was detained by police after he and his brother Roberto de Assis, 49, allegedly used fake passports to enter the country earlier this month.
The former Ballon d’Or winner’s requests for house arrest have reportedly been denied after Paraguay judge Clara Ruiz ordered their arrest saying that “there is a flight risk and there is a danger of obstruction”.
Ronaldinho’s defence claims the passport was given to him as a symbolic gift and he accidentally presented it at the airport thinking it was his Brazilian passport.
The investigation is ongoing.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
