Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison has accused Brazilian senator and presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro of unlawfully taking control of his private island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, triggering a public dispute ahead of Brazil’s presidential election.
The 29-year-old Brazil international made the allegations in a video shared on social media, claiming that Flávio Bolsonaro and his associates took possession of the luxury property without paying him for it.
Richarlison said he acquired the estate between 2020 and 2021 and invested approximately 10 million Brazilian reals, equivalent to about £1.4 million, in the property.
According to the footballer, the disagreement began after he repeatedly rejected attempts by Flávio Bolsonaro to purchase the island.
In the video, Richarlison alleged that the senator and a man identified as Willer Tomaz subsequently used legal proceedings to gain control of the property within 24 hours.
The Tottenham forward expressed frustration over what he described as a failure of the justice system, insisting that he had yet to recover the money invested in the estate.
Richarlison also called on Brazil’s Federal Police to investigate the matter and help him recover his financial investment.
He added that he intended to donate part of any recovered funds to a hospital in his hometown.
Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, rejected the allegations in a social media response, dismissing them as “fake news”.
Richarlison subsequently challenged the senator’s denial with a brief response, asking, “And my island?”
The exchange has drawn attention to the dispute, which involves a prominent footballer and a politician seeking Brazil’s highest political office.
However, the allegations remain claims made by Richarlison, while Flávio Bolsonaro has denied them. Further details about the legal proceedings and the circumstances surrounding the property’s transfer would be needed to independently establish what happened.
The dispute comes amid heightened political activity in Brazil as the country approaches a presidential election runoff.
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