AS Roma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui was the target of a brutal attack at his home on Monday night. A commando of six heavily armed men broke into the player's house while his entire family was present.

The story of a night of terror

Around 3 a.m., the peace of the El Aynaoui residence was shattered by six hooded individuals dressed in black. The modus operandi described by the Italian press demonstrates a high degree of determination:

1. Kidnapping: The 24-year-old player was forced to kneel at gunpoint.
2. Relatives were gathered together: His mother, his brother, his partner and his brother's partner were all isolated in a single room during the robbery.
3. The loot: After thoroughly searching the villa, the criminals made off with jewelry and personal belongings worth an estimated 10,000 euros .

A profound psychological shock

While no one was physically injured, the trauma is immense. Neighbors, alerted by the commotion, called emergency services, but the assailants had already fled.

AS Roma immediately reacted via a statement, expressing their full support for the Moroccan international and announcing the implementation of psychological support to help him overcome this traumatic event.

Are Serie A footballers prime targets?

This attack is part of a dark period for Italian football. From Milan to Naples, Serie A players are increasingly being targeted by organized gangs practicing home invasions.

"This type of attack, targeting up-and-coming athletes like El Aynaoui, is now pushing clubs to invest heavily in private security for the homes of their players."

The Rome prosecutor's office has opened an investigation to try to identify the perpetrators of this "commando" attack, while security around the players of the Roma club has been reinforced.