Cristiano Ronaldo’s brother has insisted that the rape allegations levelled at the Juventus striker are ‘a lot of rubbish’.
Hugo Aveiro still lives in Ronaldo’s hometown of Funchal on the island of Madeira and runs the CR7 Museum, and he made it clear the No 7 was still revered as a ‘hero’.
“My brother is a hero in Madeira. He has a big impact here because he's done a lot for the island,” he told The Times.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s brother has insisted that the rape allegations levelled at the Juventus striker are ‘a lot of rubbish’.
Hugo Aveiro still lives in Ronaldo’s hometown of Funchal on the island of Madeira and runs the CR7 Museum, and he made it clear the No 7 was still revered as a ‘hero’.
“My brother is a hero in Madeira. He has a big impact here because he's done a lot for the island,” he told The Times.
“Around half a million people come to the [CR7] museum each year. My brother comes back usually for New Year’s Eve because it's our mother’s birthday, there are lots of fireworks, although this year he might be here or Dubai.
“People here are defensive of him because everyone knows him. The local news is only saying good things and the people will stand behind him. He is an icon of Madeira.”
Asked whether the claims were rubbish, Aveiro replied: “'Yes, a lot of.”
Kathryn Mayorga was reportedly paid $375,000 (£288,000) to sign a non-disclosure agreement in 2009, although his lawyers maintain it was ‘by no means a confession of guilt’.
The 33-year-old joined Juve in a €112m deal from Real Madrid over the summer and became the first player in Europe’s top five Leagues to score 400 goals on Saturday against Genoa.