Former Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico and his family were victims of a violent armed robbery at their home near Seville on Monday night. Five masked attackers smashed down the front door while Rico was having dinner with his wife Alba Silva, their two young children and a maid. The news emerges as the current Fulham squad, sitting 18th in the Premier League with five points from seven games, prepares for a key away fixture against Coventry this Saturday.
Rico has since contacted Spanish journalists to give his account of the terrifying ordeal. He confirmed the gang were extremely violent and that he was tied up during the raid. The former keeper refuted reports that he was badly beaten in the attack. His wife Alba Silva was threatened in front of their children, including their baby son, and the family's maid was also present as the assailants ransacked the property.
Family trauma and safety plea
Alba Silva, who has over 250,000 followers on Instagram, later posted that the family was safe but she remained deeply traumatised. She revealed that her mother had a gun put to her head at the dinner table during the incident. The attackers stole valuables including cash, jewellery and designer handbags before fleeing. Local police are investigating but no arrests have been made. The couple's children are two-year-old Carla and three-month-old Sergio Jr.
Rico's career and recent struggles
Sergio Rico joined Fulham on loan from Sevilla for the 2018-19 season, making 29 Premier League appearances before the club's relegation. He later moved to Paris Saint-Germain, where he won six trophies including two Ligue 1 titles. After spells with Mallorca and Qatari side Al-Gharafa, the 32-year-old is currently a free agent. This terrifying event comes after Rico suffered life-threatening injuries in May 2023 when he was hit by a runaway horse and mule cart, spending nearly three weeks in a coma and 36 days in intensive care.
The current Fulham side, with a record of one win, two draws and four defeats this season, faces a key match against 17th-placed Coventry this Saturday 24 October. Marco Silva's side secured a 1-0 win over Hull City last Friday 17 October, with Alex Iwobi scoring the decisive goal in the 33rd minute. That victory was part of a recent run of two wins, two draws and one defeat from their last five matches, which also included a 2-1 loss to Ipswich on 10 October and a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. The club, which has scored seven goals and conceded ten this campaign, closes this difficult week with Alba Silva's message that the family is safe, attributing their survival to a higher power.
More detail at thesun.co.uk
