MILAN (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to play for Juventus against Udinese on Saturday, despite rape claims made against him, although his coach Massimiliano Allegri admits he may be tempted to rest the embattled star.
“I could go with a front three of Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo, or alternatively one of them could be rested,” said Allegri, the coach of the Italian champions.
“Ronaldo is doing well, he is ready to play. His professionalism and his composure on and off the pitch are not in question.”
US police said Monday they had re-opened an investigation into accusations by former American model Kathryn Mayorga that the Portuguese superstar raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in June 2009.
Ronaldo, 33, has strenuously denied the accusations.
“Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in,” he said.
