Germany striker Niclas Füllkrug has fallen victim to a significant theft at his Milan hotel, with jewellery valued at approximately £400,000 taken from his room.
The 32-year-old West Ham forward only arrived in Italy's fashion capital on 2 January, joining AC Milan on a temporary basis with the possibility of a permanent switch at the season's end.
Barely a fortnight into his Serie A adventure, the former Borussia Dortmund man discovered his valuables had been stolen, marking an unwelcome start to his Italian chapter.
The forward has been residing in hotel accommodation given the short-term nature of his loan arrangement.
Upon returning from a training session on Wednesday, Füllkrug found that his safe had been broken into and his precious items removed, Italian media have reported.
Investigators have since examined the hotel room for forensic evidence, with the scene being dusted for potential clues.
The German international is now cooperating with Italian police as they work to establish who may be responsible for the break-in.
Niclas Fullkrug has featured in four games for AC Milan since joining the club
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The incident is particularly unusual given that most footballer robberies occur at private residences rather than hotels, making Füllkrug's case an especially unfortunate one.
Professional footballers have become frequent targets for criminals throughout Europe in recent times.
Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma and Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling both encountered masked intruders within the past several months.
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Five facts about the Premier League | PA/GETTY/REUTERS/GBNEWSPerhaps the most memorable incident occurred in 2019 when two assailants targeted then-Arsenal teammates Mesut Özil and Sead Kolašinac, attempting to steal watches and jewellery worth £200,000.
Security footage captured Kolašinac physically confronting the attackers while Özil shielded his wife inside his vehicle.
More recently in Italy, Napoli's David Neres endured a harrowing experience in 2024 when armed robbers smashed his minibus window and demanded his watch at gunpoint.
Füllkrug joined the Hammers for £27 million during the summer of 2024 following a prolific spell in the Bundesliga.
Niclas Fullkrug struggled during his time at West Ham
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However, his time in east London proved difficult, managing just three goals across 29 appearances for the club.
The loan arrangement was viewed as beneficial for both player and club, though the robbery has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a fresh start.
Since arriving at the San Siro, the striker has featured in four matches without finding the net.
AC Milan currently sit six points adrift of city rivals Inter in second place, though they hold a game in hand.