Robinho was imprisoned on March 21, 2024, after a Brazilian court rejected all defense appeals against the Italian verdict, following his indictment in a case of sexual assault against an Albanian woman at a club in Milan in 2013.
Former Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Manchester City player Robinho appeared in a video released by a non-profit organization from inside the José Augusto César Salgado prison in São Paulo, asserting that he lives a life similar to that of the other inmates. He said, "I eat the same food, sleep in the same conditions, and receive no special treatment. I work like everyone else, and we play football on Sundays. When my wife visits, she brings my two younger children, while my older child is away because of his matches."
Robinho, 41, is staying in the "Trembei P2" wing, known in the media as housing celebrity prisoners, but he denied being a leader inside the prison or suffering from psychological problems, explaining: "I am not a leader here, and I have not needed any psychological treatment. I have a strong mentality, and the purpose of my being here is rehabilitation. I have not fought with anyone, even during football matches."
According to local reports, Robinho requested to be transferred to a more flexible prison that would allow him to go out during the day and return in the evening, but the court rejected the request and referred it to the prison authority for consideration.
It is noted that Ricardo Falco, who was involved with him in the same case, went to prison three months after Robinho, while a third friend of theirs, who was also linked to the case, was found dead by suicide last March in the city of Santos.
Robinho is serving his sentence in an 8-square-meter cell with another prisoner, and is currently working on learning programming with the aim of reducing his sentence through reform activities.
Robinho played for Real Madrid from 2005 to 2008, winning two league titles and a Spanish Super Cup title with the team, before moving to Manchester City.
The 40-year-old Brazilian also played 100 matches for the Brazilian national team, scoring 28 goals.
