Football superstar Robinho denies involvement in alleged gang rape of teenage girl

Italy: Former Manchester City striker Robinho has emphatically denied any involvement in the alleged gang rape of a teenage girl.

The Brazilian footballer released a statement on his official website following reports in the Italian media that he was being investigated over an alleged sex crime in Milan.

Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera said Robinho was being investigated over an incident in January 2013, in which an 18-year-old Brazilian woman claimed she was gang raped.

In the official statement on Robinho's website, the "outraged" player said: "With regard to reports involving the footballer Robson de Souza  (Robinho) irresponsibly circulated by the Italian media and picked up in Brazil without any attempt at verifying the truth, Robinho denies any involvement in the said incident."

It added that he is being comforted by his family who "know he would never commit such an act".