The forward strongly denies an allegation of rape and the club's president has offered his backing to the player
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli says he will support Cristiano Ronaldo as the forward faces a rape allegation.
American Kathryn Mayorga has accused Ronaldo of sexually assaulting her in a hotel in Las Vegas in 2009, something the Portuguese has strenuously refuted.
German publication Der Spiegel first reported the claims, which also included the suggestion Ronaldo paid Ms Mayorga $375,000 in 2010 as part of a privacy agreement, preventing her from going public with the allegations.
Ms Mayorga filed a lawsuit in an attempt to quash that agreement while Las Vegas police have re-opened an investigation.
Ronaldo's lawyer Peter Christiansen confirmed the payment was made to Ms Mayorga, but said some documents presented as evidence had been "stolen" and "completely fabricated".
In a statement released earlier this month, Ronaldo described rape as an "abominable crime" and Agnelli confirmed at a news conference on Thursday he will back the player.
"When there are problems I tend to look people in the eyes, ask them the questions directly and them judge them myself," Agnelli said at a news conference.
"I'm very calm, having spoken to him directly as soon as the case emerged, on his position. And his behaviour in the days and weeks that followed only confirm my initial feeling.
"It's a personal case, but I spoke to him with [vice chairman] Pavel [Nedved] and [sporting director] Fabio [Paratici] and I told Cristiano that my door and the door of Juventus will always be open whenever he would need something.
"We are here to support him and the same goes for every woman and man at Juventus, when they need it and when we are convinced that they behaved correctly."
Germany5505859
230
Dont ever say Barca Fans pls I am a Barca Fan but seriously Ronaldo's Problem is from Madrid Management who dont want to respect him for all his good effort in Madrid. This said rape case is there since 2009 then Ronaldo left Madrid 2018 and immediately the rape case come's alive. We Love Ronald as one of the best Player ever that has played Football though he is our rival but Everybody will not play for Barcelona. We wish him well bcs i know he is Innocent of that rape case...
messimiliano
192
Do these guys offer support only with the mouth? Do they have an idea of what this legend is going through? And all they can say is I support him.left to that then, all my real Madrid quarter fan boys have also shown their support for him by arguing all day long in his favor
Henryrukis
148
no doubt cr7 is a great footballer. but the aligation against the super star is not the one that we can just come out and say he is inocent or he is guilty. let's wait patiently I know the real truth will be unvail soon. but until then, let's get our hands folded and our eyes open then our mouth close. if you say you support cr7 and at last you come to know that he is guilty, what would you do? that means you're encouraging rape which is not good.