Rafa Nadal Academy worker arrested for theft and racket selling scheme

ManacorA Manacor court of investigation has been looking for months into three workers at the Rafa Nadal Academy for alleged involvement in a scheme of theft and sale of sports equipment. The volume of stolen goods could exceed 6,000 euros and includes padel rackets intended as tournament prizes, rackets, including one signed by Rafa Nadal and considered exclusive.

The events date back to December, when the center's management filed a complaint with the National Police for the disappearance of four padel rackets reserved for tournament winners. Two days later, the disappearance of a batch of six more rackets from a warehouse in the same center was detected.

The investigation was able to progress when a student located some of the rackets for sale on a well-known second-hand website and informed her coach, who verified it. These items matched those reported, and from here, the agents identified accounts and contact details that indicated involvement within the academy itself.

Restricted areas

The police attribute the access to restricted areas —where the material was stored— to an employee who has been arrested as the alleged perpetrator of a theft. Another worker is under investigation but not detained, and a third person involved is charged with receiving stolen goods, as they were allegedly the one selling the items on the platform and receiving commissions of between 10% and 20%.

Police sources indicate that the investigation has found access records with the detainee's credentials to various internal departments. The center's management collaborated from the outset with the proceedings. The documentation collected by the National Police has been sent to the court, which has begun taking statements from those investigated and witnesses.

The case remains open and under partial secrecy of proceedings while the courts and police advance in the investigation to clarify the scope of the scheme and determine responsibilities.