Cristiano Ronaldo's ex-girlfriend comes to his defence amid rape accusation

Nereida Gallardo has leapt to Ronaldo's defence. Photo / Instagram

Cristiano Ronaldo's former girlfriend has come to his defence amid rape accusations, saying she would be willing to defend the Juventus star in court.

Model Nereida Gallardo dated Ronaldo for eight months before their relationship ended in 2008. She told the Mirror during that time the footballer was always a gentleman.

"He was a courteous guy — warm and loving. He was always a gentleman with me," the 35-year-old told the Mirror.

"Cristiano treated me well while I was with him.

"He was never ever aggressive towards me — not even near. I can't see him forcing or holding down someone. He is not an aggressive guy in bed.

"I've had partners who have been verbally aggressive or who liked to grab me hard and he isn't like that."

Gallardo added: "So far I haven't been contacted. But if I am, I would be willing to go and give evidence in his favour."

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus in July. Photo / Getty Images

The 33-year-old Ronaldo has been accused of raping Kathryn Mayorga in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009, but the footballer has denied any attack and claims the sex was consensual.

Alleged victim Mayorga went to the police at the time of the claimed attack, and reportedly accepted a settlement of NZ$568,000 from Ronaldo and signed a gagging order. However, the 34-year-old has since filed court papers to overturn it and recently spoke to the city's police force.

A statement from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said: "The case has been reopened and our detectives are following up on information being provided by the victim.

"At the time the report was taken, the victim did not provide detectives with the location of the incident or suspect description. A medical exam was conducted."

Ronaldo's lawyers said documents which claim to show Ronaldo acknowledging he had sex with Kathryn Mayorga without her consent had been altered.

Court papers claim Ronaldo told Mayorga, "sorry, I'm usually a gentleman," after allegedly raping her during a night of partying in Las Vegas in 2009.

In a statement, lawyer Peter S Christiansen has said the documents are "pure invention" and have been fabricated by hackers.

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