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Ronaldo: Transvestite Won’t Cost Me My Sponsor

Ronaldo has denied reports that his altercation with three Brazilian transvestites could cost him various sponsorship deals.

May 1, 2008 6:03:01 PM

Ronaldo, Milan (Globoesporte.com)

The striker hit the headlines on Tuesday when it was reported that he had had an encounter with three transvestites in a motel in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night.

Ronaldo seemingly picked up the three men, believing that they were female prostitutes, and did not realise they were transvestites until they got to the motel.

One of the transvestites, Andreia Albertini, also allegedly attempted to extort Ronaldo, asking for $30,000 to buy a house in exchange for hiding the story from the media.

It has been reported that as a result of this altercation, Nike may decide to terminate Ronaldo's lucrative sponsorship deal, while Italian telecommunications company TIM, Brazilian beer brand Brahma and banking group Santander may do the same.

A statement on Ronaldo’s official website denies this is the case:

"The recent events involving Ronaldo are entirely of personal nature and do not in any way jeopardise any promotional deals, nor does it give rise to circumstances in which parties with whom he has contractual responsibilities have the right to rescind any deals."

Ronaldo's agent Fabiano Farah has furthered this statement up.

"What happened is not a legal matter,” he said.

"Decisions of this nature [the rescinding of contractual agreements] are not within the remit of those who have legal contracts with Ronaldo.

"His contractual agreements do not provide scope for that sort of decision, and could only be rendered null and void if Ronaldo were found guilty of something.

"But he has committed no crime, and has broken no law. On the contrary, he is the victim in this case."

Ronaldo is still in Brazili, as he continues his recovery from the horrific knee injury he suffered against Livorno in February.

Roberto Rossi

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