FERNANDES ROBBED: Bruno's £4m Cheshire mansion targeted by masked gang as thieves enter family home while Man Utd captain was away with team

Bruno Fernandes returned from Manchester United's dismal defeat by Como on Wednesday night to find that his home had been ransacked by criminals.

Fernandes made headlines on Wednesday for taking aim at United manager Michael Carrick's tactics following their 4-1 thrashing in northern Italy. And the disappointment on the pitch was followed by worse news from home.

The United captain's £4million mansion in Cheshire was raided by three masked figures on Wednesday night. His house in Nether Alderley was targeted by thieves at 8.30pm.

As first reported by The Sun, one of Fernandes' neighbours called the police after spotting three suspicious people. It is thought that they scaled the back fence of the garden, which backs onto woodland, before making off with valuables.

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They managed to get away, despite the home being fitted out with a hi-tech security system including alarms, CCTV and an electric gate. It is not clear whether Fernandes' Ana Pinho and their two young children were in the house at the time of the incident.

Mirror Football have contacted Fernandes' representatives and Manchester United to request comment.

A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: “At around 8.30pm on Wednesday 21 October, police were called to reports of suspicious activity at an address in the Alderley Park area of Nether Alderley.

“The caller reported three unknown men in the rear garden of a neighbouring property. Officers attended the scene and on arrival there was no trace of the suspects. However, officers discovered that there had been a burglary at the address and a number of items had been stolen.”

Detective Inspector David Jarvis, of Macclesfield Proactive CID, added: “This investigation is in its early stages at this time, and we’re committed to doing all we can to trace the people responsible.

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“As part of our enquiries, we’re keen to hear from anyone who was in the local area at the time and believes they may have witnessed anything suspicious.”

The incident came while Fernandes was in Como, playing in a miserable defeat. United were thrashed 4-1, prompting Fernandes to speak out against Carrick's tactics and call out the club being stuck in the past.

United are back in action against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Carrick under huge pressure to deliver a result.

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