The alleged theft dates back to May 2012, as the Argentinian was preparing to leave Napoli football club for Paris, International Business Times Italia reported.

Customs officers making a routine check found the statuette in his luggage as he was about to embark a private jet at Capodichino airport. Lavezzi claimed it was “a gift from a Neopolitan who lives in Posillipo,” prosecutors said.

Despite the claim, the crime team in Naples continue to investigate the matter and are determined to get to the bottom of it, the newspaper said.