PRISON inmates wept and organised a surprise barbecue to bid farewell to Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho as he was moved to house arrest this week.
The former Barcelona star, 40, and his brother Roberto were allowed to leave their cells in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion after being arrested for allegedly entering the country with false documents.
Ronaldinho left prison to begin house arrest on Tuesday
A potential six-month long stay in the penitentiary was cut short after 32 days once a sentence review hearing accepted bail reportedly amounting to £650,000 each.
They are now restricted to the Hotel Palmaroga in the north-west of the city.
After 32 days in the prison, the brothers were pictured hugging family and friends after departing on Tuesday.
According to ESPN Brasil, when Ronaldinho and his Roberto heard the verdict of their prison exit, they immediately headed back inside to say their goodbyes.
Upon their return they found a barbecue set up to pay tribute to the pair, who promised they would visit once again before eventually heading back to Brazil.
Tears were shed as they bid a fond farewell and the report adds that the pair, who deny the charges against them, are confident that they will soon be released from house arrest.
However their final departure from Paraguay may be held up by the coronavirus pandemic with a lockdown currently in force across the capital.
It is understood this was their fourth application to be moved to house arrest, the previous three having been rejected.
The retired footballer flashed his trademark grin as he begun his stay in a Paraguayan hotel
Ronaldinho was able to greet family and friends as he left prison
Reportedly linked to their arrest is the Paraguayan businesswoman Dalia Lopez, whose home has been raided by police in a forgery investigation.
Images released on ABC of the raid showed a room filled with thousands of footballs with the former attacking midfielder’s face printed on them.
While in prison, Ronaldinho took part in a futsal tournament – with predictable results – and dabbled in carpentry.
In fact, his release barbecue was not the first surprise inmates had organised for the 2002 World Cup winner after they baked a cake to celebrate his 40th birthday.
This is the moment Ronaldinho is told he is being released from prison as he grins from ear to ear on video link
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
