Las Vegas police makes DNA request in Ronaldo rape case
LOSANGELES:LAS Vegas police have asked Cristiano Ronaldo to submit a DNA sample as part of their investigation into accusations of rape made against the Juventus forward.
Ronaldo’s lawyer, Peter Christiansen, played down the significance of the warrant sent to authorities in Italy, saying in a statement on Thursday it was standard procedure.
“Mr Ronaldo has always maintained that what occurred in Las Vegas in 2009 was consensual in nature, so it is not surprising that DNA would be present, nor that the police would make this very standard request as part of their investigation,” the statement said. A former American model, Kathryn Mayorga, 34, of Las Vegas, accused Ronaldo in a complaint filed last year in Nevada of raping her on June 13, 2009.
BARCELONA GET BOOST
VALENCIA: Barcelona’s recent iron grip on the Copa del Rey came under threat as they lost 2-1 at Levante in their last-16 first leg tie on Thursday after resting a host of first team regulars, including Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Barca, who have won the last four editions of the Spanish Cup, fell behind in the fourth minute when slack marking from a free kick saw Erick Cabaco head home while Borja Mayoral, on loan from Real Madrid, doubled Levante’s lead in the 18th.
But the Catalans were handed a huge boost heading into next Thursday’s second leg at the Nou Camp when Denis Suarez was fouled in the penalty area and record signing Philippe Coutinho converted the resulting spot-kick in the 85th minute.
POGBA TO RETURN
MANCHESTER:PAUL Pogba will be fit to return for Manchester United’s Premier League match at Tottenham this weekend, interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Thursday.
The France midfielder linked up late with his team-mates for a warm weather training camp in Dubai this week after being injured in a challenge by Jonjo Shelvey during the 2-0 victory at Newcastle on January 2.
Pogba missed last Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup victory over Reading as a result of the knock, but trained well in UAE. Solskjaer has made a perfect start as coach since replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho, winning each of his first five matches in charge.