Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has finally opened up about the devastating impact rape allegations have had on his close family - and in particular his 'ageing' mother.
In a recent interview with the France Football magazine, the 33-year-old former Real Madrid footballer has revealed the claims are 'interfering in mylife' but is determined the 'truth will out one day'.
"Of course, this story is interfering in my life. I have a partner, four children, an ageing mother, sisters, a brother, a family with whom I am very close," Ronaldo said.
"Not to mention my reputation, which is that of someone exemplary... Imagine what it means when someone accuses you of rape, whether you have all that or not.
"I know who I am and what I did. Truth will out one day. And the people who criticise me or seek to expose my life today, who make it into a circus, these people will see.
"I explained to my partner. My son, Cristiano Jr, is too young to understand. It's worst for my mother and my sisters," Ronaldo, a four-time Champions League winner who joined Juventus in Italy for a reported €100 million ($174m), said.
Kathryn Mayorga, 34, claims Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009.
She also claims that he paid her $375,000 for her silence on the matter, a claim Ronaldo denies.
