The businessman boyfriend of Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister is on the heart of a police investigation into an alleged unlawful cockfighting operation in Brazil, the Every day Mail can reveal.
Alexandre Bertolucci, who has a younger daughter with the soccer legend’s elder sibling, ex-reality TV star Katia Aveiro, owns certainly one of three properties raided by police within the southern Brazilian cities of Gramado and Igrejinha. He denies the allegations or any prison exercise.
The raid was the results of tip-offs concerning the breeding and coaching of roosters for the disturbing underground ‘sport’ wherein the birds combat to the dying.
Police say they found a complete of 1,500 Mura roosters – a local breed developed for optimum aggression – caged in rows and in deplorable circumstances that included mutilation, as revealed in unique photos and video obtained by the Every day Mail.
Officers additionally seized a gun, suspects’ cell telephones, and paperwork at different places, not Bertolucci’s.
Most of the birds discovered on all three properties, together with chicks, have been being stored in cramped cages in circumstances investigators described as animal cruelty, Detective Gustavo de Mattos Brentano mentioned in an announcement.
‘Police obtained info that the services beneath investigation have been breeding, promoting and coaching Mura roosters supposed for unlawful cockfighting occasions,’ the assertion mentioned.
‘The investigation is ongoing to find out the origin of the animals and the involvement of different people in an alleged prison group.’
Cristiano Ronaldo is seen right here with elder sister and former actuality star Katia Aveiro. She is very near her 41-year-old brother, soccer’s first billionaire who not too long ago performed in his remaining World Cup sport for Portugal
The Every day Mail has realized that Aveiro’s companion, businessman Alexandre Bertolucci (pictured) owns one of many properties raided by police investigating a cockfighting operation in southern Brazil; he denies any wrongdoing
Prime specimens are price as much as $5,400 in Brazil for fights the place spectators can gamble large quantities on the consequence.
Video obtained completely by the Every day Mail reveals row after row of roosters confined to small cages within the Gramado property owned by Bertolucci.
Some are pacing continually forwards and backwards whereas others have their heads poked out to partially escape the confinement.
It additionally reveals an ominous ring resembling a small above-ground pool that’s sometimes used to simulate a cockfighting atmosphere.
In one other section, taken at one of many different raided premises, video reveals an analogous ring with a chicken in a cage within the center and one other chicken exterior the cage.
Detective de Mattos Brentano advised the Every day Mail: ‘Any such setup is in step with a follow typically utilized by folks concerned in cockfighting, the place a rooster is uncovered to a different chicken that it can’t bodily assault.
‘The objective could be to extend aggression or situation the chicken earlier than fights.’
Of the police raids, he added: ‘The overwhelming majority of the birds have been confined in small cages and lots of confirmed indicators of abuse, together with lack of meals and water, bodily accidents to their chests and wings, and mutilations.
Video and photographs of the raids completely obtained by the Every day Mail present legislation enforcement looking out Bertolucci’s property in Gramado, Brazil, the place they discovered rows of roosters confined to small cages
Officers additionally discovered a round ring in step with these used to simulate cockfighting occasions
One rooster discovered on the property is seen with bodily accidents on its wings
Most of the birds, together with chicks, have been being stored in cramped cages in circumstances investigators described as animal cruelty
‘These included the elimination of the hallux (the rear toe) to accommodate synthetic spurs, in addition to the elimination of the comb to forestall opponents from gaining a grip throughout fights and to scale back bleeding from cuts in that space, which may in any other case impair the chicken’s imaginative and prescient throughout fight.’
He additionally confirmed: ‘The investigation started with a tip-off, continued by means of investigative work and in the end led to the execution of search and seizure warrants licensed by the judiciary.
‘Cockfighting is prohibited in Brazil and it might, in some circumstances, be linked to organized crime.
‘Extra generally, nevertheless, teams of people type prison associations particularly to prepare cockfighting occasions and commit acts of animal cruelty.
‘Fights usually happen in distant places, sometimes in rural areas. Many are organized by means of WhatsApp teams, which members use to keep away from police detection, benefiting from these strategies together with the comparatively lenient penalties that at present exist in Brazil.’
Nobody has been arrested or charged.
‘We can’t formally verify or disclose the id of people beneath investigation because of Brazil’s Abuse of Authority Legislation,’ mentioned de Mattos Brentano.
Bertolucci’s lawyer Lúcio de Constantino advised the Every day Mail that ‘no proof of any uncommon or prison exercise was discovered’ at his shopper’s premises.
Footage from the raid confirmed a number of cages housing Mura roosters
Among the many disturbing findings within the raids was a blue container holding useless birds
Legislation enforcement discovered a desk with varied anti-inflammatory drugs on show
Legislation enforcement additionally famous that lots of the birds confirmed indicators of accidents, neglect and mutilation
A trophy depicting two preventing roosters was found inside one of many raided properties, police mentioned
He added: ‘The ability is a poultry breeding operation, comprising roosters, hens, and chicks, devoted to enhancing genetic high quality by means of the cautious choice and improvement of particular specimens.
‘The operation is topic to common technical oversight by a veterinarian, who ensures sanitary compliance, correct animal husbandry, and the upkeep of genetic high quality requirements.’
The unique photographs obtained by the Every day Mail additionally reveal police being briefed earlier than the raids, which included different native and authorities businesses.
In different photographs contained in the raided premises in Igrejinha, a sick sculpture of two birds preventing could be seen plus a desk laden with anti-inflammatory drugs, police mentioned.
Bertolucci’s property additionally had drugs pictured, however these look like for treating cattle.
One other picture, taken at Bertolucci’s premises, reveals mixed physique and head covers used to forestall birds attacking one another whereas they’re being transported collectively.
Aveiro, Ronaldo’s 48-year-old sister, started relationship Bertolucci in late 2017 after visiting his hometown of Gramado, Brazil. She was raised in Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira alongside her celebrity brother, 41.
On the time she was often called a actuality TV star and singer who launched her showbiz profession in 2005 beneath the title La Ronalda.
By 2019, the couple proudly launched daughter Valentina into the world. It was the third little one for Aveiro, who has two sons aged 26 and 16 with ex-husband Jose Pereira.
Katia Aveiro,48, who was raised in Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira alongside her celebrity brother, 41, started relationship Bertolucci (pictured collectively) after visiting his hometown of Gramado
Ronaldo and his sister are recognized to share a detailed relationship. They’re seen posing collectively after Actual Madrid received the UEFA Champions League remaining soccer match in opposition to Liverpool in Kiev, Ukraine in 2018
Earlier this month she shared an Instagram photograph displaying her assist for the Portuguese nationwide staff on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Bertolucci’s attorneys have claimed the property (pictured through the raid) is a poultry breeding operation and that no proof of prison exercise was discovered
Now describing herself as a ‘communicator’ and entrepreneur to her 1.7 million Instagram followers, she is believed to work with Bertolucci on actual property tasks in Gramado that haven’t any relationship to the property in query.
There isn’t a suggestion Aveiro is concerned in any alleged illegal exercise.
The Brazilian city is a well-liked mountain resort recognized for its Alpine-style structure, reflecting the affect of German immigrants who settled within the area. Bertolucci and his household ran a restaurant within the space however it’s now closed.
Aveiro is very near Ronaldo, soccer’s first billionaire who not too long ago performed in his remaining World Cup sport for Portugal. The staff was knocked out of the event by Spain, who went on to turn into the 2026 champions.
Aveiro has regularly gushed on social media about her adoration of her sibling, describing him on his thirty ninth birthday as ‘the idol of many,’ and including ‘you understand how a lot I really like you.’
She additionally wrote alongside throwback photographs of the previous Manchester United and Actual Madrid hero: ‘The story of your life is already a film, a real-life film. Who would have thought?
‘You have been destined to return and make a distinction within the lives of so many. Celebrating your birthday is a blessing and a pleasure… the daddy, the son, the brother, the good friend, the uncle and the idol of so many.’
Ronaldo, price $1.4 billion thanks partly to mega Nike offers and a $235-million-a-year contract with Saudi Professional League membership Al-Nassr, is reported to have joined Aveiro in an actual property challenge himself within the southern Brazil metropolis of Santa-Catarina.
Aveiro was beforehand often called a actuality TV star and singer who launched her showbiz profession in 2005 beneath the title ‘La Ronalda’
Aveiro welcomed her daughter with Bertolucci, Valentina, in 2019. She additionally has two sons, aged 26 and 16, (pictured collectively) from a earlier relationship
Father-of-five Ronaldo bought engaged to mannequin and influencer Georgina Rodriguez, 32, in August 2025. They’ve been collectively since 2016 and have two kids collectively.
The star has one other elder sister, Elma Aveiro, an entrepreneur and social media influencer who manages her personal magnificence model.
In the meantime, Ronaldo’s brother Hugo Aveiro has averted fraud costs in Italy after reaching a confidential settlement over allegations that he bought 13,000 counterfeit soccer shirts.
Prosecutors in Turin opened a probe in 2020 over claims that the jerseys of Serie A giants Juventus have been produced with out approval from the membership’s model companion Adidas.
The soccer star’s sibling was accused of buying a merchandising license however then advertising and marketing shirts that have been completely different to the official model.
In accordance with prosecutors, they need to have been destroyed however ended up being bought for $45 every on the CR7 museum in Funchal, which is devoted to Ronaldo’s profession.
In accordance with Madeira Weekly, each side settled out of courtroom.
