RAUL ASENCIO has fiercely protested his innocence after being accused of distributing a sexual video involving an underage girl.
The Real Madrid star is due to stand trial in the Canary Islands and could face five years in prison.
Asencio is accused of sharing footage involving three former Madrid reserve players.
It is claimed the players involved lied when they told the two girls – allegedly aged 16 and 18 – that the recorded sexual material had been deleted.
Ferran Ruiz, 22, Juan Rodriguez, 23, and Andres Garcia, 22, were arrested in September 2023.
Asencio’s appeal against his inclusion in the upcoming trial was rejected in February.
Posting on X, Asencio wrote on Thursday: “I have not participated in any behaviour that violates the sexual freedom of any woman, much less minors.”
In a lengthy statement, the Los Blancos star said the “presumption of innocence must continue to prevail.”
He added: “Should charges ultimately be filed and a trial commence, I will continue to defend myself before the Courts and Tribunals, in which I have full confidence, reaffirming my innocence of any criminal conduct.
“All of this is without prejudice to the utmost respect for the conduct of the judicial proceedings as a whole, including those of the other persons under investigation.
“I want to reiterate, once again, my absolute respect for the rights to sexual freedom and privacy of all women.”
Asensio claims the video was recorded “in a location other than where I was”.
But despite the judge making clear he is not being charged for making the footage, he remains indicted on charges of sharing it.
He added: “[The ruling] does not accuse me of having had sexual relations with the two women involved, nor of having recorded them, with or without their consent.
“Likewise, the court order clarifies that I was not the one who sent any intimate images or videos to third parties, which, I reiterate, were recorded in a location other than where I was.
“The court order, as far as I am concerned, limits its content to the eventual momentary viewing of some images by a third party, without attributing to me any participation in their recording or dissemination.”
The four Madrid players were arrested after a complaint was filed by the mother of a 16-year-old girl in the Canary Islands.
The complainant stated that the sexual activity was consensual, but the alleged recording was not.
Asencio, 22, has risen through the ranks at Madrid to become a regular starter this season.
The centre-back has made 34 appearances this season across all competitions.
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