Cristiano Ronaldo's sister's boyfriend investigated by Brazilian police for illegal cockfighting

Hupu, July 24 — Daily Mail social affairs reporter Greg Woodfield has exclusively reported that the businessman boyfriend of Cristiano Ronaldo's sister is at the center of a Brazilian police investigation into alleged illegal cockfighting activities.

Alexandre Bertolucci, who has a young daughter with former reality TV star Katia Aveiro—Ronaldo's sister—owns one of three properties raided by police in the southern Brazilian towns of Gramado and Igrejinha. He denies the allegations and any involvement in criminal activity.

Police Raids and Findings

The raids followed reports that roosters were being bred and trained at these locations for a disturbing underground "sport" involving deadly fights between the birds.

• Police said they found 1,500 roosters of the "Mura" breed, a local variety bred for extreme aggression.
• Exclusive photos and videos obtained by the Daily Mail show the roosters confined in rows of cages in poor conditions, with some suffering physical mutilations.
• Officers also seized a firearm, suspects' phones, and documents at other locations—not at Bertolucci's property.

Detective Gustavo de Mattos Brentano, leading the case, said in a statement that many birds, including chicks, found at all three locations were kept in cramped cages under conditions investigators deemed animal cruelty.

The statement read:

"Police received intelligence that the properties under investigation were breeding, selling, and training Mura roosters for illegal cockfighting. The investigation is ongoing to determine the origin of the animals and whether others are involved in this suspected criminal organization."

Cockfighting in Brazil

In Brazil, top fighting roosters can be worth up to $5,400, and spectators often place large bets on the outcomes of these fights.

Exclusive video obtained by the Daily Mail shows rows of fighting roosters confined in small cages at Bertolucci's property in Gramado. Some birds pace back and forth inside their cages, while others stick their heads out for air.

The video also shows an ominous circular structure resembling a small above-ground pool, typically used to simulate cockfighting environments. In another video from one of the raided locations, a similar structure is visible, with a rooster in a central cage facing another rooster outside it.

Detective de Mattos Brentano told the Daily Mail:

"This setup matches a common practice among cockfighting participants, where one rooster is placed facing another it cannot physically attack. This is usually done to provoke aggression or train the bird before a fight."

Commenting on the police operation, he added:

"The vast majority of birds were kept in small cages, and many showed signs of mistreatment, including lack of food and water, chest and wing injuries, and physical mutilations."

He described specific mutilation practices:

"These measures include removing the back toe (where the spur is located) to attach artificial spurs, and cutting off the comb—removing the comb prevents opponents from gripping it during fights and reduces blood loss from that area that could obstruct vision."

Legal Context

Cockfighting is illegal in Brazil and can, in some cases, be linked to organized crime. However, it is more common for individuals to form criminal groups specifically to organize cockfights and commit animal cruelty.

Cockfights are usually held in remote, often rural areas. Many events are organized via WhatsApp groups, allowing participants to evade police detection.

No arrests or charges have been made so far.

Brentano said:

"Under Brazil's Abuse of Authority Act, we cannot officially confirm or disclose the identities of those under investigation."

Bertolucci's Defense

Bertolucci's lawyer, Lúcio de Constantino, told the Daily Mail that "no evidence of any irregularity or criminal activity was found" at his client's property.

"The facility is a poultry breeding farm housing roosters, hens, and chicks, dedicated to improving genetic quality through careful selection and breeding of specific strains. The farm is under regular technical supervision by veterinarians to ensure compliance with hygiene standards, proper management practices, and maintenance of genetic quality standards."

Additional Evidence

Exclusive photos obtained by the Daily Mail also show police being briefed before the raids, which involved collaboration with other local and government agencies.

Police said other photos from inside the searched property in Igrejinha show a sculpture of two birds fighting and a table covered with anti-inflammatory drugs. Medications were also photographed at Bertolucci's residence, but these appeared to be intended for treating cattle.

Another photo from Bertolucci's residence shows a protective cover used to shield birds' heads and bodies, designed to prevent them from attacking each other during transport.

Background on the Aveiro Family

Aveiro, Ronaldo's 48-year-old sister, began dating Bertolucci after visiting his hometown of Gramado, Brazil, in late 2017. She grew up with her 41-year-old superstar brother in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.

The star also has a sister, Elma Aveiro, an entrepreneur and social media influencer who runs her own beauty brand.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo's brother, Hugo Aveiro, was previously accused of selling 13,000 counterfeit football jerseys but reached a confidentiality agreement to avoid fraud charges in Italy. Turin prosecutors launched an investigation in 2020 following allegations that jerseys of Serie A giants Juventus were produced without permission from the club's brand partner, Adidas. According to prosecutors, the jerseys were meant to be destroyed but were instead sold for $45 each at the CR7 Museum in Funchal, a museum dedicated to Ronaldo's career. An out-of-court settlement was reached, according to the Madeira Weekly.

Source: Daily Mail