Mexican soccer player Alan Pulido rescued after kidnapping

Mexican soccer player Alan Pulido, left, stands next to Tamaulipas State Gov. Egidio Torre Cantu after Pulido was rescued from kidnappers early Monday, May 30, 2016 in Ciudad Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas State, Mexico. Mexican authorities say Pulido, a forward with Olympiacos in the Greek league, has been rescued safe and sound after an hours-long kidnapping in the northeast border state of Tamaulipas. (AP Photo/Alfredo Pena) Mexican soccer player Alan Pulido, left, stands next to Tamaulipas State Gov. Egidio Torre Cantu after Pulido was rescued from kidnappers early Monday, May 30, 2016 in Ciudad Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas State, Mexico. Mexican authorities say Pulido, a forward with Olympiacos in the Greek league, has been rescued safe and sound after an hours-long kidnapping in the northeast border state of Tamaulipas. (AP Photo/Alfredo Pena)

By Associated Press May 30, 2016 2 min read

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) – Mexican police have rescued kidnapped soccer player Alan Pulido, who appeared with a bandaged hand at a brief press conference Monday to declare that he was fine.

Police and other officials said Pulido, a 25-year-old forward with Greek soccer club Olympiakos, was freed in a security operation Sunday shortly before midnight in the northeast border state of Tamaulipas. Pulido had been seized by gunmen as he left a party Saturday night.

In the early hours of Monday, Pulido appeared outside state police offices wearing shorts and a tank top with a bandaged right hand alongside Tamaulipas Gov. Egidio Torre Cantu. When reporters asked him how he was, Pulido replied: “Very well, thank God.”

“The most important thing is that he is here. He is with us,” Torre Cantu said.

Pulido declined to answer other questions and was driven away in a sports utility vehicle.