US sportswear Nike says it is deeply concerned by the rape allegations labelled against Cristiano Ronaldo as their shares in Italian Champions , Juventus fell over 5% on the Italian stock exchange on Friday.
Ronaldo is one of the best top athletes in the world and has landed himself a number of lucrative deals and sponsorship contracts.
Nike relationship with Ronaldo is rumored to be worth $ 1 billion dollars could be in the rocks after the police in Las Vegas announced this week they were reopening a rape case after allegations made by a former model , Kathryn Mayorga , relating to the incident which happen in 2009.
Speaking to AFP, the Nike spokesman said,” we are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and will continue to closely monitor the situation .”
The EA sports , which Cristiano Ronaldo is a leading figure in their phenomenally successful Fifa video game market, also described the allegations as ” concerning.”
“we are closely monitoring the situation , as we expect cover athletes and ambassadors to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with EA’s values ,” the group said in a statement.
according to Forbes magazine , Cristiano Ronaldo is one among the few athletes to have been given a lifetime deal with Nike.Cristiano joins LeBron James and Michael Jordan who are NBA icons.
Ronaldo’s move from Real Madrid to Juventus in the summer over a big lucrative deal with Real Madrid gave the Italian giants a huge boast as they continue their race for the first Champions League title since 1996.
The club shares rose 180% to a record level of 1.80 euros in September , 20. But the Italian received a dramatic fall that over 5% have been wiped off the value of their shares after the Milan stock exchange opened.
Juventus have so far supported Ronaldo , but their reaction to the rape allegations has angered some fans.” The events allegedly dating back to almost 10 years ago do not change this opinion , which is shared by anyone who has come into contact with this great champion.”
Ronaldo vehemently denied the allegations being issued against him. Ronaldo through his tweeter handle distanced himself from the allegations saying they are against his believes and his values.
My clear conscious will thereby allow me to await with tranquillity the results of any and all investigations.
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 3, 2018
I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense.
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 3, 2018
Portugal said said on Thursday Ronaldo will not participate in the countrys next four internationals , but he was given backing from Portugal coach Fernando Santos and the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernando Gomes.
Mayorga s attorney Leslie Stovall told reporters that her client had suffered years of trauma as a result of the alleged attack by Ronaldo. She also thanked #MeToo movement that helped Mayorga gain the confidence to speak out. Mayorga claims she was pressured into signing a non-disclosure agreement in 2010 to keep everything undercover. She is seeking at least $ 200,000 in penalties and damages against Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is pessimistic to survive this allegations which he strongly denied from the first time. He has remained positive in the training ground acting as a source of motivation to his fellow players. Ronaldo will unlikely miss their Champions League against his old side Manchester United , after he was sent off the pitch.
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