Former Manchester United Midfielder, Anderson, Accused Of Laundering Money Through Crypto

Anderson, involved in money laundering cases in Brazil. (photo; twitter)

JAKARTA - Former Manchester United midfielder Anderson has been accused of laundering 4.7 million pounds through cryptocurrency in Brazil.

The owner's real name, Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira, during his career spent seven years with United. He is remembered as the goalscorer in their penalty shootout win over Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final.

He was named by Brazilian newspaper Globo as one of eight people being investigated by state prosecutors into a scheme designed to divert 35 million Brazilian rials from the state stock exchange and launder money using cryptocurrencies.

Prosecutors did not name those involved although Globo said it had confirmed Anderson was being investigated for his role in the scheme.

The report said the people under investigation had been accused of crimes including theft, belonging to criminal organizations and the laundering of goods, property or valuables.

The investigation, named Crpytoshow, began more than a year ago, when state prosecutors issued 13 search and seizure warrants in the Porto Alegre area. Anderson's apartment was one of the buildings searched.

Anderson told Globo that he had been investing in cryptocurrencies since 2019 and confirmed that his company had sold bitcoin to one of the companies involved but stressed he had no idea the money came from illegal sources.

Anderson's lawyer, Julio Cezar Coitinho Junior, said Anderson would prove he was a victim, not a participant in the sinister conspiracy.

Anderson, 33, hails from the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre and began his career with local side Gremio in 2006 before moving to Porto two years later and then moving to United.

After leaving United in 2015, a year after spending a season on loan with Fiorentina, he returned to his hometown to join Gremio's bitter rivals Internacional.

Anderson retired from football in 2020 after spending two years with Turkish side Adana Demirspor.

The Globo report said the investigation claimed the group embezzled 30 million rials from the bank account of a large company via 11 electronic transfers to six companies in four Brazilian states.

The money was then allegedly laundered inside Brazil and abroad via cryptocurrencies.