They arrived in Ibiza early on a Sunday morning, a small group stepping off a ferry with a plan that would unfold into a high profile robbery case. Among those involved was a former Real Madrid great and Brazil’s national team legend Ronaldo Nazário, and the Italian footballer Marco Verratti, who at the time was Ronaldo’s guest in the island villa. Inside their circle were precious jewels and watches valued at roughly three million euros, plus ten thousand euros in cash. The authorities later confirmed that the possessions belonged to Verratti and Ronaldo, and that two suspects were caught as they left the island on a ferry destined for the mainland.
As the theft unfolded, the suspects carried most of the loot with them. The ongoing investigation, conducted with help from CASE OPEN which reported findings from Prensa Ibérica and other media partners, suggested the loot had been concealed in a double bottom underneath a car. The concealment points to a coordinated effort that favored a quick exit once the property was taken.
The criminals hid the loot beneath the vehicle they were driving
The arrested individuals included a mix of Albanians and Spaniards, all of whom had prior records related to home invasions. Their backgrounds indicated a pattern of activity in the country that stretched beyond a single incident, signaling a broader network of criminals with a focus on high-value residences.
The robbery proved daring. According to investigative reporting, the thieves gained access to a luxurious home in Cala Jondal, situated in the upper part of Santa Eulalia’s coast on the island. The lower floor and garden area housed a smaller gathering, while upstairs the intruders moved with relative ease. The guests, including the guests of the villa such as Verratti and Ronaldo along with partners and friends, were unaware of the breach until the danger had passed. The security team was taken by surprise, a detail that underscores how quickly the scene escalated and then concluded once the thieves vanished with their prize.
The villa’s victim, the football figure Marco Verratti, was photographed later relaxing on Ibiza’s shoreline, a quiet backdrop to a tense event that had just occurred nearby. The image circulated as part of a broader narrative about how the island hosts celebrity guests and the fragile line between private security and public spectacle.
get off the island
In a rapid follow-up, the Albanian-Spanish group decided to evacuate the island with the loot. Two of its members boarded a ferry bound for Denia while driving a car that had been used in the operation. Upon reaching the port of La Marina near Alicante, law enforcement officials with the National Police Headquarters UDEV were waiting. They intercepted the vehicle and conducted a search, uncovering watches and jewelry that were believed to have been stolen from Ronaldo’s villa, though exact item-by-item matching would take time to confirm.
The police operation continued as investigators sought to locate the remaining members of the ring. The investigation extended to other private properties on the island that had drawn attention for possible involvement, including villas popular with visiting football personalities. Authorities emphasized that there was no known link between the operation and any direct threat to the sport’s stars, but the case underscored how prominent figures can become targets when they host gatherings in exclusive locations.
The incident drew attention to security dynamics on the island, where luxury homes offer both seclusion and risk. It also highlighted the kind of opportunistic crime that can occur in resort zones, especially when high-value property intersects with a high-profile guest list. The story continued to unfold as officials pursued additional leads and worked to determine the full scope of the theft and any accomplices still at large.