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The stepfather of Argentine football star Carlos Tevez has been freed after being kidnapped on the outskirts of Buenos Aires and held for eight hours.

Juan Alberto Cabral was taken by a group of men while driving his car in Moron, some 30km (19 miles) west of Argentina's capital.

Police said Tevez's family had received several calls from the men demanding a ransom to free Mr Cabral.

Local media say a ransom of 40,000 pesos (£3,000; $5,000) was paid.

Neither the family nor the authorities have confirmed whether a payment was made.

"He is OK," a spokesman for the family said.

Tevez's biological father was killed when he was young, and the player was raised by Mr Cabral.

The former Manchester United and Manchester City striker is reported to have left Italy, where he now plays for Juventus, to travel to Argentina.

The BBC's Ignacio de los Reyes in Buenos Aires says it is unclear whether the kidnapping was pre-meditated or if the group just targeted an expensive-looking car.

It is not the first time relatives of football stars have been the targets of kidnappings in Argentina.

In 2002, the brother of former Argentina and Barcelona player Juan Roman Riquelme was kidnapped and the footballer allegedly paid $160,000 (£95,000) to free him.