A court ruling in Brazil has mandated that former Brazilian football star, Robinho, 40, must serve a nine-year prison sentence for rape, stemming from a 2013 incident in Italy.

Robinho, a former AC Milan player, was convicted by an Italian court in 2017 for his involvement in the gang rape of a 22-year-old Albanian woman. Despite residing in Brazil, where extradition of nationals is prohibited, judges in Brasilia have decreed that he must fulfill his sentence, following a request from Italy.

While Robinho remains free pending a potential appeal, the legal proceedings continue. The footballer had previously lost an appeal in 2020, with Italy’s highest court upholding his sentence in 2022, prompting Italian prosecutors to issue an international arrest warrant.

In his defense, Robinho has claimed that the encounter was consensual, a stance he reiterated in an interview with a Brazilian network on Sunday.

Robinho, known for his stints at top clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester City, has had a controversial career trajectory. Despite his on-field success, including winning two La Liga titles with Real Madrid, his legacy is now tainted by this serious criminal conviction.