Former Manchester United star Anderson has been ordered to spend time in prison on suspicion of failing to pay for child maintenance. The 37-year-old footballer has been warned that he could face in prison for up to 30 days unless he pays the £142,000 he reportedly owes.
The decision was made on September 3 by a family court judge in Porto Aregul, home to Anderson, southern Brazil, but it has recently been revealed. Brazilian media reports claim that Anderson, who joined the company from Porto in July 2007 and won the Premier League for United, will be limited to his cell.
Unless he pays at the last minute, if there is space for him in the local prison, he is expected to be closely monitored under a strict “closed regime.”
Reports say he may be allowed during the day for study or community work, but only if the prison is overcrowded it will have to return to his cells at night, under a more relaxed “semi-opening regime.” The court’s decision is believed to be based on the payment of the alimony owed by Anderson as of July 28th.
Anderson, who played internationally for Italy’s Fiorentina and Brazil before resigning at the age of 31, has yet to make any official comments.
His lawyer, Giulio Cesar Coicinho Jr., confirmed with local news outlets that the case was involved with minors, but refused to comment further on a secret order. Anderson was reported to be a father of four in 2015 and a father of nine earlier last year, and looked back at his time at United in an interview with a Brazilian newspaper.
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He reveals that he and his former Portuguese teammate Nani were “adopted” by Cristiano Ronaldo while they lived in his house and described their bed as a stretcher.
He said: “I am very grateful to him. He adopted me. We had lived in Ronaldo’s house for nearly a year. We left because we wanted to leave. We could stay there for him. We would not have used anything.
Anderson won eight caps for his country. His Brazilian debut arrived at Copa America in 2007 and ultimately won.
He also represented the Brazilian Olympic football team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and helped secure the bronze medal.
He scored United’s first goal in the Audi Cup Friendly Tournament with Boca Junior in July 2009, two years after signing a five-year contract with the club and becoming the second Brazilian after Cleverson.
Anderson wrote a new four and a half year contract with United in December 2010, but after losing his favor during the 2014-15 season he moved to Brazil Side Sports Club International.
