Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to face a police interview over rape allegations as American detectives prepare to bring sophisticated new methods to their investigation.
Las Vegas police refused to discuss who they will interview, having announced this week they had re-opened the case.
But a US detective who has handled 1,200 sexual assault cases said he had no doubt the force would want to question Ronaldo over 34-year-old Kathryn Mayorga’s claims, at a time when the #MeToo movement has triggered the re-opening of hundreds of historic allegations.
Ronaldo’s alleged victim may be asked to undertake a new form of psychological assessment, designed to trigger memories of the night in June 2009 when she was with the footballer.
American detectives are finding increasing success in focusing on what they call ‘neurobiological trauma’, which allows those who allege sexual assault to recall details years later.
Ronaldo, who denies he raped Ms Mayorga, spoke out in a video on Instagram hours after her lawyers filed court documents about the case on Sunday. Grinning into the camera, he said: ‘No, no, no, no, no. What they said today? Fake, fake news.’
But the court documents, first published by Der Spiegel, show that Ronaldo’s lawyers paid Ms Mayorga, a teacher, $375,000 (£228,000) to maintain her silence on what happened in a bathroom at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
It is understood Ronaldo maintains any sexual encounter was entirely consensual.
The indication by Ronaldo’s main sponsor Nike that it is ‘deeply concerned’ by the claims further underlines that this is an allegation the player cannot simply wave away.
Sun-Deep
365
I just want to know what happened in a bathroom at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas......???🤔🤔🤔
BabaNla_14
325
The lady just want to be known in this life through Cr7, but d word of raping is too much
SamuelKofiOwusu
173
If it were to be Messi those people with Barcelona flag would say is not true. Hypocrite people God is watching the world.
AbhijaiSingh
143
Well he can't tell his son who his mother is ? Jesus Christ. He was a sex addict and probably he gave her hush money and raped her but the fact that she comes after 9 years to complain has everyone to be on Ronaldo's side.
Vamdeze
140
I'm surprised, CR7 has always bin a Gud boy, dis Guy is having series of bad luck afta leaving Realmadrid, hope he is VINDICATED of dis accusations, hw d mighty is abt to FALL[PIZZA]
catorn
116
I don't know y a bitch like her will come out after 10 years and she's already being paid a huge some as settlement. What if Ronaldo has become poor since that long years. I hope the power given to this social ladies can be review because is all down to money interest.We all have a time where we met someone that says no but at last we end up making love and we never regretted it because sometimes a lady can say no and yet she's interested in having sex. Whatever happens both of them are into each other because she Ronaldo offered her clothes which she wore. Is just that Ronaldo wants to do the sex thing in a hurry and without romancing her. Ronaldo would have gently play and carry her along with foreplay before going for sex. The woman was not satisfied with just having a quickie thats all.
Sun-Deep
68
Ronaldo’s lawyers paid Ms Mayorga, a teacher, $375,000 (£228,000) to maintain her silence on what happened in a bathroom at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.