Former Spain striker Juanele has been sentenced to five months in prison on domestic abuse charges.
The 44-year-old, who was part of La Roja’s 1994 World Cup squad but did not play in the tournament, has also been given three years’ probation, consisting of outpatient medical treatment for his psychiatric condition and a restraining order.
A judge at a criminal court in Gijon heard how the ex-player embarked on a drinking session, went to the hairdresser that his then-girlfriend worked at and assaulted her with a baseball bat in front of her eight-year-old daughter on June 2.
However, the ruling also recognised that Juanele suffered from a permanent disability, having been diagnosed with both alcohol dependence and personality disorders.
Juanele represented the likes of Sporting Gijon, Tenerife and Real Zaragoza in La Liga and Europe during the 1990s, scoring 61 goals in 346 top-flight appearances, and netted twice in five caps for Spain.
However, his later life has been chequered by bouts of depression and addiction to prescription drugs.
