Portugal’s Ruben Semedo denies raping under-age girl after being arrested and says ‘everything has been done for money’

PORTUGUESE footballer Ruben Semedo has denied all charges after being arrested for allegedly raping an under-age girl.

The central defender, 27, plays for Greek champions Olympiacos.

Athens police arrested Semedo on Monday after a 17-year-old woman claimed the player raped her at his home.

The teenager reportedly met the footballer in a bar before he drove her to his house in the capital's upmarket suburb Glyfada.

However Semedo maintained his innocence on Greek TV on Tuesday.

He told reporters: "I am innocent.  Everything has been done for money.

"If I was not a footballer, nothing would have happened.

"I want you to be here when I am acquitted."

A second man has been arrested for his role in the alleged incident, a Nigerian national aged 40.

Greek media quoted the alleged victim as saying: "I had a lot to drink, and ended up falling asleep on a bed in Semedo's house.

"Soon afterwards the other man came in, and took advantage of my terrible state to force me to have sex.

"Later on, after he had gone, Semedo came into the room.

"After locking the door, he too forced me have sex."

Semedo received a suspended five-year prison sentence in 2020 after being found guilty of robbery, assault, kidnapping and possession of a firearm.

He spent five months in a Spanish jail after being charged with attempted murder, which he denied.

Amadora-born Semedo began his career with Sporting Lisbon. Olympiacos paid Villarreal £4million for him in 2019.

He was a rumoured transfer target for Wolves earlier this summer.