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Real Madrid news: ‘El Sniper’ could face nine years in jail for printing photos showing stars such as Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and even club president Florentino Perez with targets on them

Santiago Sanchez Ramirez's house was raided where police found the photos as well as illegal weapons

A man known as "El Sniper" took photos of Real Madrid players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, and then mocked them up with a sniper target

A MAN known as "El Sniper" could face up to nine years in jail after printing photos of Real Madrid footballers with sniper targets on them.

Santiago Sanchez Ramirez took snaps of some of the club's star players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

 A man known as "El Sniper" took photos of Real Madrid players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, and then mocked them up with a sniper target
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 A man known as "El Sniper" took photos of Real Madrid players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, and then mocked them up with a sniper targetCredit: EPA

His collection even included then-Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti and president Florentino Perez.


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He then published the prints with sniper targets on their heads - hence the nickname he has been tagged with.

 Gareth Bale is also believed to have had his photo taken by Ramirez at the Real Madrid training base
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Gareth Bale is also believed to have had his photo taken by Ramirez at the Real Madrid training baseCredit: EPA

Alongside the disturbing collection of photographs which also included ones of other athletes and celebrities, Spanish police also discovered illegal weapons, which has led to prosecutors asking for a long jail sentence.

There were also photos discovered of him holding a sniper rifle, although it is not known if this was pointed at footballers specifically.

 Carlo Ancelotti, who was Madrid boss at the time, had his photo taken while he was leaving training in his car
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Carlo Ancelotti, who was Madrid boss at the time, had his photo taken while he was leaving training in his carCredit: Getty Images

Ramirez would park his van outside the club's training base at Valdebebas and snap the players making their way in and out of training.

He told a court in Spain during his trial last week that the incidents, that date back to 2014, show how lax security is.

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