It has been reporetd that world class footballer, Lionel Messi's wayward brother was arrested for the second time in just over three months last night after a car crash in an Argentinian holiday resort.
According to
The Sun UK, Matias Messi, 35, was held after the driver his car hit called police to claim he had been threatened with a weapon.
Javier Rivera, 24, said the Barcelona’s star elder sibling fled the scene after taking the gun out of his car boot following a struggle.
He also told Argentinian media Matias deliberately damaged his vehicle before driving off and being stopped by police after a crash.
Rivera’s lawyer backed up his version of the story.
Messi’s brother was being held at a police station in Pinamar on Sunday - near the scene of the accident, a well-known nightclub in Villa Gesell called Pueblo Limite.
He is expected to be hauled to court on Sunday after his night in custody.
Police say no gun was found in the Range Rover Matias was driving, although local reports said two cannabis cigarettes had been found in the vehicle.
The other driver told local media Matias had become aggressive after hitting his car from behind.
Mr Rivera, speaking shortly after the accident, said: “I parked up to see why he had hit me and when I got out saw the other person who immediately began to insult me and then assaulted me and ripped my T-shirt.
“Then he began to threaten me and went back to his car and got out a weapon.
“After the struggle he returned to his vehicle and tried to run me over.
“He escaped from the police twice before he was caught.”
His lawyer Atilio Roncoroni, who reported Messi’s brother for aggravated criminal threats, added: “My client was hit from behind as he was leaving Villa Gesell to head to Pinamar where he works.
“He said the other man was absolutely livid and began to insult him despite having been the one who had hit him from behind.
“He said there was a struggle and the other man told him, ‘Don’t you know who I am!’ before going back to the car and getting out something from the boot.
“My client says he had a gun in his hand when he came back, like one of the pistols the police use, and there was another struggle.
“Witnesses say they separated and the other man got back in his vehicle and tried to hit my client who was behind his car and dodged him.
“He got a few feet up the road and turned back round again and when he was about to hit my client’s vehicle he swerved but damaged the side of his car and left.”
Insisting Messi’s brother had only been held half an hour later after a police chase, he said: “I know Matias Messi is in the police station and I don’t know what decision prosecutors will take but my client is going to report him for threats with a firearm and wounding.”
Local reports said Matias had told police he left the scene of the accident because the other man had hit him and he feared for his safety.
He is understood to have a bruised right cheek from the altercation that took place after the accident and the other driver has been warned he could also face prosecution.