CRISTIANO
As the striker took to the pitch for Juventus – and scored in their 2-0 win over Udinese – it emerged lawyers want to question his ex-girlfriends.
And despite appearing in a full page newspaper advert yesterday, concerns mounted among some of Ronaldo’s other sponsors that their brand names could be damaged.
A string of top companies spend a fortune sponsoring the ex-manchester United and Real Madrid ace, who is worth an estimated £350million.
Ronaldo yesterday appeared in Italy’s largest sports newspaper – La Gazzetta dello Sport – modelling his tight-fitting CR7 jockey shorts. The bizarrely-timed ad came as other sponsors, including Nike, EA Sports and DAZN said they were monitoring the case.
Legal experts said the 33-yearold star faces the prospect of multimillion pound claims from sponsors if the rape allegation against him is proven.
Simon Leaf, who specialises in commercial contracts for Mishcon de Reya, said: “This is likely to include not only their rights to terminate or suspend the relationship if the allegations prove to be accurate, but also whether they may be able to recover past fees paid to him.”
Juventus have given their full support to the player, who vehemently denies an allegation that he raped American Kathryn Mayorga. Her legal team wants to question former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson and other ex-girlfriends. It comes after Las Vegas Police last week reopened their case into a claim by Ms Mayorga that she was raped by Ronaldo in June 2009. Gemma, 33 – who starred on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing – dated Ronaldo in 2007. Others who could be questioned under oath include fellow Brit Imogen Thomas, 35, Paris Hilton, 37, Kim Kardashian, 37, and supermodel Irina Shayk, 32. There is no suggestion he assaulted them.
Leslie Stovall, lead attorney for Ms Mayorga, 34, said: “Past girlfriends will have a great insight into his conduct.
“It will help build a picture of Mr Ronaldo’s behaviour. I want to speak to any girlfriend who knew or knows him intimately. I will travel to the UK if I need to. Kathryn is determined no one else should suffer like she has. We will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of that.”
During a deposition, former girlfriends and lovers of Ronaldo would be quizzed in the presence of lawyers representing both sides. Ms Mayorga’s team also want to trace one woman, now 40, who claims Ronaldo assaulted her in 2005 during his Man United days. Ronaldo, 20 at the time, was arrested on suspicion of rape. He and a second man, in his thirties, were accused of assaulting two women after United’s 3-2 win at Fulham. The forward told pals he had been “stitched up”. One woman withdrew her complaint and the Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was insufficient evidence in relation to the other.
Mr Stovall added: “We are actively looking for this woman. She may hold information that may help us in our case. It is important we talk with her.”
Ms Mayorga’s team are also reviewing a well-documented incident in 2007 in which hookers reportedly went to his home near Manchester for an orgy.
Ms Mayorga, meanwhile, claims in papers filed in Las Vegas that she was assaulted in Ronaldo’s 57th floor penthouse at the Palms Hotel. Film shows them smooching in a hotel nightclub earlier. She says she went to