Atletico Madrid Defender Matteo Ruggeri Faces Allegations of Racist and Sexual Audio Messages

Matteo Ruggeri, a 23-year-old defender for Atletico Madrid, is at the center of serious allegations following social media posts by a woman who shared purported private messages and voice notes from the player. According to the claims, Ruggeri paid the woman 150 euros for sexually explicit voice messages and allegedly requested that she record statements containing racist insults and offensive remarks about God, even instructing her on how to pronounce certain words. One alleged quote from Ruggeri includes him asking, "Does it bother you if I masturbate while listening to your voice messages?" Another message reportedly features the sound of masturbation, and in a separate voice note, he is said to have asked her to record a message declaring herself racist and making derogatory comments about Black people.

Screenshots and audio clips linked to the controversy quickly spread across social media platforms in Italy and Spain, sparking a wave of reactions from Atletico Madrid fans. Some supporters have called on the club to sever ties with Ruggeri if the accusations prove true. However, these claims remain unverified, with no official confirmation from Ruggeri, Atletico Madrid, or major media outlets in Italy or Spain. Ruggeri joined Atletico Madrid from Atalanta last summer for 17 million euros and made 47 appearances across all competitions last season. Recently, he has also been mentioned as a potential transfer target for Roma, possibly reuniting with his former coach Gian Piero Gasperini from Atalanta.