A Brazilian goalkeeper who had his ex-lover murdered and cut into pieces before she was fed to a pack of dogs has been pictured promoting a local kennel.
Former Flamengo captain Bruno Fernandes, once tipped to wear the gloves for Brazil’s first team, was sentenced to 22 years in 2013 after admitting Eliza Samudio was killed and fed to a pack of Rottweilers on his orders following a paternity dispute.
The 35-year-old has been serving a ‘semi-open’ sentence since July 2019, allowing him to play for a lower league side and live with his wife in Rio de Janeiro state.
Bruno wrote alongside the pictures: ‘Yesterday I had the great pleasure of getting to know an incredible kennel of my Booba’s breed. American Bully. I would like to thank @friendsbullkennel for their hospitality and congratulate you on the beautiful animals you have there! The ones in the photo are Estrela and Cristal, and I also took my Booba to meet new friends and play a lot! A very productive encounter!’
Bruno wrote alongside the pictures: ‘Yesterday I had the great pleasure of getting to know an incredible kennel of my son Booba’s breed. American Bully. I would like to thank @friendsbullkennel for their hospitality and congratulate you on the beautiful animals you have there! The ones in the photo are Estrela and Cristal, and I also took my Booba to meet new friends and play a lot! A very productive encounter!’
Eilza Samudio disappeared after suing Bruno for not supporting the child they had together, who the goalkeeper had initially refused to accept as his son.
The post was slammed online, with ‘Bianca Portiglioti’ writing: ‘The goalkeeper Bruno has made a public post for a KENNEL. This country laughs in the face of women.’
And ‘Matheus’ added: ‘I don’t think even news about the government left me more shocked than Bruno doing adverts for a kennel. It’s a level of disrespect I’ve never seen before.’
The former Flamengo star responded to the criticism, writing in an Instagram story: ‘To just make things clear: One of the dogs is mine and I went to the kennel for a visit and I took the opportunity to take it with me.
‘Whoever wants to believe the gossip in the press or a blog, feel free! It isn’t necessary for me to stop posting what I want because of the illusions of third parties!
‘I am not doing advertising for the kennel, but I also wouldn’t see any problem in doing it! I love animals!
Bruno met former girlfriend Eliza Samudio at a footballers’ party in 2009, and he later had a son with her. She disappeared in 2010 and her body was never found. Pictured: Ms Samudio holding legal papers (left) and posing after falling pregnant (right)
Bruno, who before his arrest had been linked with a multi-million pound transfer to AC Milan and was tipped to play for Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, had also previously been linked with a move to Barcelona thanks to promising spells with Corinthians and Flamengo
‘To the sensationalists, take note as you don’t have any news and you need something new to write about, I have a pair of Shitszus, and American Bully and a cockatiel!’
His ‘semi-open’ prison regime allows him to serve his time at home with his wife Ingrid Calheiros in the municipality of Arraial do Cabo in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and he must meet certain conditions such as proving he is working.
Victim Ms Samudio disappeared after suing Bruno for not supporting the child they had together, who the goalkeeper had initially refused to accept as his son.
Her body was never found and her baby was discovered with Bruno’s associates in a slum in Ribeirao das Neves, on the outskirts of the city of Belo Horizonte.
Bruno admitted in court his friends had strangled Ms Samudio before cutting her into pieces and feeding her to dogs.
Bruno is taken in cuffs by police to his trial as hundreds looked on at the once-lauded football ace
He has never admitted to taking direct part in the murder and disposal of the body, but he was convicted all the same.
Before her disappearance on June 4, 2010, Ms Samudio had approached police claiming she had been held captive by Bruno and his associates, who forced her to take an illegal abortion drug.
Bruno allegedly put a gun to her head and told her: ‘You don’t know who I am or what I’m capable of – I’m from the favela.’
The baby, Bruninho, was born in February 2010, but the player refused to acknowledge he was the father.
Bruno is surrounded by press at the height of the furore over Ms Samudio’s death
Bruno, who before his arrest had been linked with a multi-million pound transfer to AC Milan and was tipped to play for Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, had also previously been linked with a move to Barcelona thanks to promising spells with Corinthians and Flamengo.
He caused uproar in October last year when he started playing again for lower league side Pocos de Caldas after serving enough time to qualify for temporary release.
After making the 100-mile journey from the prison in Varginha, where he had been serving his sentence, he told reporters: ‘When people here in Pocos de Caldas get to know the real Bruno, the human being that he is, then a lot of minds will be changed.
‘I have a great opportunity to show the new me.’