Soccer player Alan Pulido was rescued late Sunday night by Mexican police, authorities said, following his kidnapping about 24 hours earlier in the northern-Mexico border state of Tamaulipas.
Pulido, who had returned to his home town of Ciudad Victoria after his season with Olympiakos of the Greek league ended, reportedly was taken by armed men outside a restaurant. Pulido’s brother, Armando, confirmed the kidnapping to Medio Tiempo, saying the striker had disappeared as he and his girlfriend, Ileana Salas, left a party at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Pulido’s car was surrounded by several trucks, his brother said, and six masked men took Pulido away. Salas, according to reports, was released.
The Associated Press reported that Pulido, who has made six appearances for the Mexican national team, reappeared outside state police offices with one of his hands bandaged alongside Tamaulipas Governor Egidio Torre Cantu.
The Tamaulipas security coordination group said in a statement Monday that the rescue occurred shortly before midnight and involved state and federal police. The Mexican magazine Proceso, however, reported that Pulido was not rescued but instead escaped. Either way, according to the AP, when asked by reporters how he was doing, Pulido said, “Very well, thank God.”
State police spokesman Evaristo Gutierrez said one suspect has been arrested but provided no details.
Ciudad Victoria is the capital of a state in which there has been a great deal of fighting between drug gangs.
Pulido, a member of Mexico’s 2014 World Cup team, recently fell out favor with Coach Juan Carlos Osorio after a lingering dispute over his contract with his former Mexican club Tigres. He left the team in 2014 to play in Europe.
