A Premier League star was targeted in an alleged blackmail – then his friend was shot

Brian Brobbey's move to Sunderland last summer was seen as a significant achievement for the newly promoted Premier League club, given his impressive goal-scoring record at Ajax and previous interest from Manchester United. The £21.5 million deal has proven worthwhile, as the 24-year-old striker has played a key role in Sunderland's surprising success this season, keeping them in contention for European qualification.

However, Brobbey's career has been overshadowed by a troubling incident since 2022, in which he is an innocent victim. The case involves a notorious gangster, a near-fatal shooting, and an alleged extortion attempt targeting Brobbey. The story became public in the Netherlands last summer, following an investigation by crime correspondent Paul Vugts, and was later reported by other media outlets after Brobbey's identity was revealed in a court hearing.

The incident occurred in December 2022, when Brobbey was approached at a techno music festival in Amsterdam by a local criminal known as 'Piccalo'. This encounter marked the beginning of the alleged extortion plot, highlighting the overlapping worlds of footballers and criminals in Amsterdam and raising questions about how clubs support their high-profile players in such situations.

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