Villarreal goalkeeper assaulted at gunpoint in Valencia
Peter Gulacsi, Hungarian goalkeeper for Villarreal, was the victim of an armed assault at his home in Puçol while his wife and children were in the house. The incident prevented him from playing in the Champions League.
Armed assault on footballer's home on the Costa de Valencia
Peter Gulacsi, goalkeeper for Villarreal, was forced to miss the Champions League match against Naples after suffering an armed assault at his luxury home in Puçol, according to The Olive Press. Four masked intruders broke into the residence at around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, threatening the 36-year-old Hungarian goalkeeper and his wife Diana Vigh, a Pilates instructor, with firearms.
The assailants forced the couple to open a safe and demanded money and valuables for approximately one hour. At least one of the couple's two young children was in the house during the incident. The intruders subsequently fled in two luxury vehicles from the exclusive Monasterios gated community.
After the criminals' escape, Gulacsi alerted emergency services. Police and emergency teams responded quickly to the scene. Although nobody suffered physical injuries, the family required medical assistance following the trauma experienced. The value of the stolen items remains unknown, and investigators have not yet determined whether the firearms used were genuine or replicas.
The Guardia Civil has opened an investigation to identify the four suspects and locate the getaway vehicles. No arrests have been made so far.
Villarreal confirmed that the authorities were informed immediately and are investigating what occurred. Luiz Junior, Brazilian goalkeeper, replaced Gulacsi in the Champions League match on Tuesday evening.
Gulacsi, of Hungarian nationality, joined the Spanish club in August following a long spell at German side RB Leipzig and six years at Liverpool. He has played 57 international matches between 2014 and 2025, participating in three European Championships.
The assault reflects growing concerns about organised robberies targeting the homes of footballers in Spain. Spanish police recently detained three suspects for a series of robberies in Catalonia, including break-ins at the homes of Barcelona stars Joan García and Pau Cubarsí. Two men were remanded in custody, whilst a 46-year-old woman was released on conditional bail.
In May, former Southampton defender Jan Bednarek and his family experienced a similar incident when an assailant broke into his home in Porto, Portugal, escaping with jewellery valued at €150,000 after threatening the footballer and his family.
Source: The Olive Press