DEFIANT RETURN
Back at Old Trafford, Ronaldo breaks his silence and insists he is ‘confident’ over rape allegations
Cristiano ronaldo put on a defiant display as he returned to old trafford last night.
the Juventus forward faced the media for the first time since rape allegations were made against him as he looked ahead to his side’s Champions league clash with his old club Manchester United.
He defended himself in a press conference and maintained he is innocent, saying: ‘My lawyers, they are confident and, of course, i am, too. the most important thing is that i enjoy the football, i enjoy my life. of course, the truth is always coming in the first position. so, i’m good.’
He is used to playing under clouds in Manchester, but a rather different type of storm has enveloped Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford.
Not that you would have known it had you been in the famous venue’s Number 7 suite last night for a show of defiance, defence and dentistry.
Here, ahead of Juventus’s Champions League clash with United, the 33-year-old faced the press for the first time since Us police said that they would re-investigate claims he raped a model in a Las Vegas hotel room.
‘i am a happy man,’ was Ronaldo’s initial response.
Then, with pearly whites gleaming almost as brightly as the £1.85million customised watch on his wrist, came the big statement.
‘i’m not going to lie in this situation,’ he continued. ‘i’m very happy. My lawyers, they are confident and, of course, i am, too. The most important thing is that i enjoy the football, i enjoy my life. The rest, i have people who take care of my life. Of course, the truth is always coming in the first position. so, i’m good.’
This will be the second time Ronaldo has walked out at the Theatre of Dreams since his £80m move to Real Madrid on June 12, 2009. it is a date that now has added significance.
On that night more than nine years ago, Ronaldo is accused of raping model Kathryn Mayorga in a Vegas hotel. Mayorga, 34, says she was paid £288,000 to sign a non-disclosure agreement and has since been inspired to come forward and tell her story. On instagram, Ronaldo dismissed the allegations as ‘fake news’. His lawyer says the nondisclosure agreement was ‘by no means a confession of guilt’.
The man himself maintains what happened after a night of drinking in a nightclub was consensual. He was singing from the same hymn sheet in Manchester. ‘i know i am an example,’ he said when asked if he regarded himself as a role model. ‘i know, 100 per cent, on the pitch and outside the pitch. so i am always smiling.
‘i am a happy man. i’m blessed that i play for a fantastic club, i have a fantastic family, i have four kids, i am healthy. i have everything. so the rest, it doesn’t interfere on me. i’m very, very well.’
With a simple ‘ciao’ and a ‘see you tomorrow night’, Ronaldo was gone. No english journalists were selected to ask questions, but this was a polished performance and now his employers will be hoping for more of the same on the pitch.
This summer, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined Juve in a £99m move from Real Madrid. The serie A giants craved more global attention. They certainly got it. it is unlikely, however, that they wanted the subsequent 37 per cent drop in share price.
For now, they will be happy to concentrate on the football.
Ronaldo will face a club where he is loved. The walls of the press conference room are adorned with pictures of those who have worn the iconic No 7 jersey.
A picture of Ronaldo firing off a shot is sandwiched between George Best leaving defenders in his wake and David Beckham clipping a trademark free-kick.
in a trophy-laden six years, Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances before departing for spain. His only other visit here came in a 2013 last-16 clash. On an emotional night, he was given a standing ovation which only ceased at kick-off. He scored the goal which knocked United out, then refused to celebrate. He was asked if he would repeat that. ‘My reaction will be the same,’ he said, before adding that he wanted to send sir Alex Ferguson a ‘big hug’. Jose Mourinho will be hoping he does not get the chance to score, although he was glowing in his praise for his compatriot, who he coached at the Bernabeu. ‘Cristiano is one of the best players of all time,’ he said. ‘And nobody can tell different than that.’ Mourinho, who will be looking to continue an encouraging run that has seen talk of his departure put on the back
burner, was asked if he would like a return to struggling real Madrid and suggested he may even extend his stay in Manchester.
‘No,’ he said. ‘My future is here. i have a contract and, until the end of my contract, i only think about Manchester united.’
Mourinho’s deal runs until 2020, with the option of another year. ‘i would like to stay after my contract runs out,’ he added.
The united manager will be without Marouane Fellaini, phil Jones, Scott McTominay, Jesse lingard, alexis Sanchez and diogo dalot. romelu lukaku perhaps surprisingly admitted it is yet to click for him at united.
The 25-year-old, a £75m arrival from everton, has scored four in 11 this season, compared with 11 in 12 last term. Should he fail to hit the net against the italians, it would be his longest barren run for the club.
When asked why he finds it easier to score for Belgium, lukaku responded: ‘it’s something that we’re working on. The players need to know me and know my movements and i need to know their movements.
‘When that starts clicking, i think the results like i have with Belgium will also come here.’
Juventus are expected be without star striker Mario Mandzukic, who picked up an ankle injury in training.
Former liverpool man emre Can and Germany international Sami Khedira are also out.
Coach Massimiliano allegri does not want a battle. ‘We have to play football, because if we become engaged in a physical battle, we will lose,’ he said.