Former Juventus star and Ecuador international Pedro Perlaza ‘kidnapped’ as police investigation is launched
A FORMER Juventus star has allegedly been kidnapped.
Ecuadorian Pedro Perlaza is believed to have been abducted in the province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador, close to the Colombian border.
A source told an Ecuadorian outlet that police have launched a kidnapping investigation into his whereabouts after his family alleged he had been taken.
Perlaza's family reported him missing on Monday evening, with the alleged kidnapping incident taking place at 9am that day.
It is claimed Perlaza was intercepted by a motorcyclist while travelling on a road and forced into a vehicle.
A statement from Ecuador Police read: "Following the alleged involuntary disappearance of citizens Pedro P. and Juan M. in #Esmeraldas, following the filing of the respective complaint by their relatives, #PoliceEcuador immediately began investigative and operational work around this incident."
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
A friend, who reported last seeing Perlaza on Sunday at 4pm, said he had not been heard from since leaving training.
He said: "We were at the Isla Piedad field enjoying soccer practice and he told me that he was going home to rest and we don't know what happened to him.
"Hopefully we can find out the whereabouts of our friend. He was here this week working on a construction site. He was always supportive. That's why we're hurt."
Perlaza, 33, has spent his entire career playing in Ecuador and has won three caps for the national team.
Most read in Football
He now plays for Ecuadorian top flight side Delfin, while one of his former clubs Liga de Quito took to X expressing "profound concern and solidarity regarding the news of our former player's kidnapping".
The club continued: "In this difficult time, we extend all our support to his family, friends and loved ones, reiterating to them that they are not alone."
"We trust that this situation will find a favourable outcome and that we will soon receive encouraging news."