Tottenham star Emerson Royal ‘escapes horror nightclub armed robbery in Brazil unharmed’

Tottenham defender Emerson Royal was reportedly targeted by an armed robber in Brazil in the early hours of Friday morning. 

According to O Liberal, the 23-year-old had just left a nightclub in his home city of Sao Paulo at around 3am and was taking photos with an off-duty police officer when an individual pointed a gun at him while demanding his belongings. 

It is claimed that the officer spotted the thief and drew his gun to open fire at them, with Royal escaping unharmed. 

29 shots were reportedly fired at the assailant, one of which hit them in the back and meant they had to be taken to a nearby hospital. 

The Spurs star’s watch and chain were taken in the incident but recovered after the frenzied shootout. He is said to be shaken up by what happened. 

However, he was able to travel to the local police station with his father and manager to file a report.   

Royal had been out partying with his family and friends at New Trips nightclub, which is located on Paulista Avenue – one of the longest roads which runs through the middle of Sao Paulo. 

The incident happened just after Royal and his family left New Trips nightclub in Sao Paulo 

The 23-year-old made 41 appearances in all competitions in his debut season for Tottenham

‘I was celebrating and on the way out, this whole affair happened, which was very bad,’ the player’s father told Globo Esporte. ‘A horror scene indeed. I don’t wish that on anyone.

‘He [the policeman] went, as usual, with Royal to the car and when he realized there was a robbery and the criminal was pointing the gun at Emerson, at the time the criminal got distracted, the policeman started to exchange shots with him. 

‘There were around five or six people with him. Each one went to a side running, dodging, because they didn’t know where the shots were coming from.’ 

Royal is currently on holiday back in his native country after an impressive debut campaign for Tottenham.

The full-back moved to North London from Barcelona for £25.8million last summer and made 41 appearances in all competitions as Spurs qualified for next season’s Champions League. 

Royal has seven caps for Brazil to his name and has ambitions of going to the World Cup 

He has seven caps for Brazil to his name, but is not included in their squad for friendlies against Japan and Argentina this week. 

‘My dream is to go to the World Cup,’ Royal said last month. ‘It’s my biggest goal and there’s no point in hiding it. It is my childhood dream. Things have happened very fast but I think what counts is maturity and the will to play. I have a lot of both.

‘I have to deliver on club level to be in Tite’s squad at the end of this year and I’ve been doing that. I believe I’m improving and will keep improving with Conte’s management, too.’