Embattled Ronaldo presents selection headache for Juventus
MILAN, Oct 6, 2018 (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to play for Juventus against Udinese, despite rape claims made against him, although his coach Massimiliano Allegri admits he may be tempted to rest the embattled star.
"I could go with a front three of Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo, or alternatively one of them could be rested," said Allegri, the coach of the Italian champions. "Ronaldo is doing well, he is ready to play. His professionalism and his composure on and off the pitch are not in question." US police said Monday they had re-opened an investigation into accu- sations by former American model Kathryn Mayorga that the Portuguese superstar raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in June 2009.
Ronaldo, 33, has strenuously denied the accusations.
"Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in," he said.
However, there have been offfield consequences to the controversy.
On Friday, shares in Juventus lost almost 10 percent of their value on the Milan stock exchange, closing down 9.92% at 1.19 euros.
Just two weeks ago, shares in the Italian champions rose 180 percent to a record level of over 1.80 euros. Furthermore, Nike has said
it is "deeply con- cerned" by the allegations against their star client whose relationship with the US sportswear giant is rumoured to be worth $ 1 billion ( 869 million euros).
"We are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and will continue to closely monitor the situation," a Nike spokesman told AFP.
According to Forbes magazine, Ronaldo is one of only three athletes to have been given a lifetime deal with Nike, joining an elite club that also includes NBA icons LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
EA Sports, for whom Ronaldo is a leading figure in their phenomenally successful FIFA video game market, also described the allegations as "concerning".