Hilton: Robbery left me no choice

Montpellier defender Vitorino Hilton says he left Marseille in 2011 after a robbery at his home left him and his family psychologically scarred.

Montpellier defender Vitorino Hilton says he left Marseille in 2011 after a robbery at his home left him and his family psychologically scarred.

The 35-year-old Brazilian said that while he was contemplating leaving the club anyway, the incident gave him no choice but to move on to pastures new.

“I wasn’t getting the opportunities I wanted from the coach (Didier Deschamps) and I needed a new club to show that I could still perform well,” he told Goal.com.

“Besides, I couldn’t stay at Marseille after my house was robbed. My family and I didn’t have the psychological strength to stay in the city after that. It was a very tough moment for me.

“Montpellier came at the final hour and I decided to accept their offer, since I wanted to stay in the southern part of the country and I knew it was a quieter place than Marseille.”

Hilton was part of Montpellier’s title-wnning side last season, and he says it was the belief of the side that gave them the edge ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.

“No one imagined that we would manage to stay at the top of the table for the entire season, but the team fought from the start to ensure that would happen.

“The team grew as the time passed and, as soon as we passed PSG, we had the personality to hold on to top position.

In terms of his future, Hilton said he wants to return to his homeland to finish his career.

“I do think about finishing my career in Brazil,” he said. “I’ve had a dream since I was a child of playing at Flamengo, the team that I love.”