Robinho Speaks Out from Brazilian Prison Amid Nine-Year Sentence

Robinho, the disgraced former Manchester City and Real Madrid football star, has given his first video interview from inside Dr. Jose Augusto Cesar Salgado Prison in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he is serving a nine-year sentence for rape. The 41-year-old, locked up since March 2024 after the Italian courts confirmed his conviction from a 2013 nightclub rape in Milan, described prison life as equal to that of any other inmate, refuting rumors of special privileges or leadership roles within the facility.

In the footage released by a non-profit organization aiding inmate rehabilitation, Robinho appeared calm and healthy, emphasizing that his daily routine—including meals, work, and recreation such as football matches on Sundays—mirrors that of all prisoners. He stated that visits from his wife and children happen on weekends, with treatment consistent across all inmates. The former star dismissed allegations about psychological issues or special status as false, insisting he has not required medication and maintains a clear mindset despite the challenges of incarceration.

Robinho’s move to prison followed years of legal battles after his 2017 conviction for his role in the gang rape of an Albanian woman in Italy during his tenure at AC Milan. His appeals were ultimately rejected by both Italian and Brazilian courts, with Brazil enforcing his sentence in 2024 rather than extraditing him. Recently, he requested a transfer within the São Paulo prison system, which authorities turned down, suggesting he redirect the request to prison officials as the current facility transitions to a more open inmate system.

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Though Robinho continues to assert his innocence, claiming the woman had consented to a group encounter, the courts have upheld his conviction. A close friend and co-defendant, Ricardo Falco, joined him in prison months later for the same crime. Robinho’s eldest son currently plays for Santos, the same club where his father famously began his career.

This interview sheds light on Robinho’s current conditions and his ongoing legal and personal ordeal behind bars in Brazil, spotlighting the fall from grace of a once-celebrated football icon ​.