Pato, Diego Offer Ronaldo Support

El Fenomeno's tryst with three transvestites seems to have done plenty of damage to his reputation, the different versions of the incident notwithstanding.

The striker, currently recovering after a knee operation, is set to lose his girlfriend and sponsors Nike despite insisting that he was the wronged one.

However, compatriots Alexandre Pato and Diego have offered their support to him at this difficult moment.

“He is still my idol,” said Pato. “He is a great friend.

"He’s relaxed and now just has to focus on healing his knee injury. He needs to get better and return to playing football.”

Diego aired similar thoughts.

"I admire Ronaldo very much so, inside and outside the field," said the Werder Bremen star.

"He was always my idol and I am cheering once again for him to return to the fields asap. I imagine that what happened was a big misunderstanding."

Frank Barrone