Ronaldo may not have a legal case to answer, but the scandal with three transvestite prostitutes could cost him his girlfriend and his Nike contract.
Ronnie’s name was splashed all over Brazil’s newspapers when transvestite Andre Albertini claimed in the Folhe de Sao Paulo that he took cocaine with the marksman in a hotel in Rio De Janeiro before receiving payment for sex acts.
However, Ronaldo claims he was the victim of an attempt at extortion and that he refused to pay Albertini £12,000 to stop him fabricating the story for the Press.
The latest reports suggest it could have a disastrous effect on the Milan star’s reputation and career.
“An active supporter of social causes, he has never used drugs and is an idol to youngsters all over the world. All the evidence points to a case of extortion with Ronaldo as the victim,” read a statement on his official website.
According to Brazilian newspaper ‘Extra’, his position as an idol to youngsters is precisely why Nike are considering tearing up Ronaldo’s lucrative sponsorship contract.
The deal has lasted throughout injury problems and career dips, but this off the field incident could prove the final straw for a contract worth in the region of £100m.
It is also reported that Ronaldo’s girlfriend Maria Beatriz has left their apartment in Rio de Janeiro for a return to her family home in Brasilia.
The pair had been dating since January 2007 and local gossips suggest marriage and children were on the cards.
The official Milan website is continuing to studiously ignore the entire incident, but their view on Ronaldo’s latest problem in addition to the injuries could prompt the Rossoneri to reconsider his future as well.
