Cristiano Ronaldo describes rape claim as 'fake news'

Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the rape case against him as "fake news" by a US woman who alleges she was raped by the former Real Madrid footballer in 2009.



Ronaldo said in an Instagram video,: "It's normal. They want to use my name to promote themselves."

Ronaldo's lawyers say they will file a suit against Germany's magazine, Der Spiegel, which originally reported the allegations.

The magazine reported that Kathryn Mayorga had claimed the 33-year-old Ronaldo raped her in a hotel room in Las Vegas and shortly after the alleged incident, Ms Mayorga, 34, filed a rape report with Las Vegas police.

She reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo with a $375,000 payment not to ever go public with the allegations in 2010.

Her lawyers are now seeking to declare the non-disclosure agreement void.

In a statement released by Ronaldo's lawyer Christian Schertz "the reports in the German magazine is blatantly illegal".

He also disclosed that he had been instructed to seek compensation for "moral damages" over "arguably one of the most serious violations of personal rights in recent years".

Earlier this year, Juventus signed Ronaldo from Real Madrid for £99.2m earlier.

The five-time Balon d’Or is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.