Fotoalbum » It was the first time this season that Atalanta — which

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo won’t face criminal charges after a woman accused the soccer star of raping her in his suite at a Las Vegas resort more than 10 years ago Cheap AC Milan Soccer Team Uniform , a top prosecutor said Monday.A new investigation by Las Vegas police failed to show that Kathryn Mayorga’s claim could be proven at trial beyond a reasonable doubt, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said.“Therefore, no charges will be forthcoming,” Wolfson said in a statement.The decision represented a victory on one of two legal tracks tied to the 2009 allegation against one of the most recognizable and highly paid players in sports.In a lawsuit still pending in federal court, Mayorga alleges that she was pressured to sign an agreement to keep quiet in exchange for $375,000. Her lawyers want to void the deal and collect at least $200,000 more from Ronaldo.Ronaldo’s attorneys have acknowledged that the soccer star and Mayorga had consensual sex in June 2009, but they denied it was rape. Attorney Peter Christiansen was traveling Monday and wasn’t immediately available to comment.Attorneys for Mayorga, a former model and schoolteacher www.thetopsoccer.com/club-team-kit/ajax , did not immediately respond to telephone, text and email messages.The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they are victims of sexual assault, but Mayorga gave consent through her lawyers to make her name public.Her lawsuit says she met Ronaldo at a nightclub and went with him and other people to his suite at the Palms Hotel and Casino, where he assaulted her in a bedroom. Afterward, she signed a non-disclosure agreement under pressure from “fixers” trying to protect Ronaldo’s reputation, her lawyer, Leslie Mark Stovall, has said.The lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas accuses Ronaldo or those working for him of conspiracy, defamation Cheap AS Roma Soccer Team Uniform , breach of contract, coercion and fraud for allegedly allowing terms of the settlement to become public in European publications.Her attorneys say Mayorga never wanted her name released but became worried that she would be identified after a 2017 media report apparently referred to the encounter.Her lawyers have said in federal court documents that they were having trouble personally serving Ronaldo with legal filings. A judge has given them an Oct. 28 deadline.Ronaldo plays in Italy for the Turin-based soccer club Juventus. He played previously for Manchester United in England and Real Madrid in Spain, where he earned a then-record sum of 94 million euros, or about $130 million.Mayorga underwent a medical exam to collect DNA evidence shortly after she alleges Ronaldo assaulted her. Police closed their investigation in 2009 because Mayorga neither identified her attacker by name nor said where the alleged rape took place, said Wolfson, the elected prosecutor in Las Vegas.Police have said she identified her attacker only as a European soccer player.“As a result, the police were unable to … conduct any meaningful investigation,” Wolfson said Monday. “Detectives were unable to search for and impound vital forensic evidence. In addition, video evidence www.thetopsoccer.com/club-team-kit/atletico-madrid , showing interactions between the victim and perpetrator before and after the alleged crime, was lost.”The investigation was reopened in last year at the request of Mayorga’s attorneys, shortly before they sued Ronaldo. She spoke again with police, and authorities this year obtained a sample of Ronaldo’s DNA through Italian authorities.Police did not immediately respond Monday to messages about the case. ROME (AP) — Cagliari could be on its way to becoming this season’s Atalanta in Serie A — and the lucrative sale of prized midfielder Nicolò Barella to Inter Milan is a big reason for the Sardinian club’s sudden success.Cagliari moved into contention for the Champions League places with an authoritative 2-0 win at Atalanta on Sunday, marking the team’s best start since Luigi Riva led the team to its only Italian league title in 1970.The victory stretched Cagliari’s unbeaten run to nine matches and lifted the team level on points with fourth-place Lazio and fifth-place Atalanta — which exceeded all expectations by finishing third last season and qualifying for the Champions League.“Europe isn’t a banned word but we can’t think long-term like that,” Cagliari coach Rolando Maran said. “We’ve got to go match by match and remain tormented inside to make us grow, work and improve on a daily basis.”It was the first time this season that Atalanta — which still leads the league with 30 goals scored — was held scoreless.In July, Cagliari loaned homegrown gem Barella to Inter for 12 million euros ($13.4 million) in a deal that forces the Milan club to sign him at the end of the season for an additional 25 million euros ($28 million), plus a possible bonus of 12 million euros ($13.4 million). All told Cheap Barcelona Soccer Team Uniform , the deal could end up being worth nearly 50 million euros ($56 million).Cagliari then spent a club record 18 million euros ($20 million) to acquire midfielder Nahitan Nández from Boca Juniors, welcomed back combative midfielder Radja Nainggolan in return from Inter in another loan deal and also signed striker Giovanni Simeone (from Fiorentina), midfielder Marko Rog (Napoli) and goalkeeper Robin Olsen (Roma) to loan deals.It’s all part of a process of revival that began five years ago when longtime club president Massimo Cellino sold the team to Tommaso Giulini, the owner of a chemicals business.Cagliari dropped down to the second division after Giulini’s first season in charge but then won its first Serie B title the next season and has been back on the top league ever since.Nández, Nainggolan, Simeone, Rog and Olsen have provided big contributions this season.“(Selling Barella) was the correct choice,” Cagliari sporting director Marcello Carli said. “And then (Giulini) did very well to invest all of the money in the squad. Not everyone would have done that. Spending 10-15 million (euros) per player is no small matter for us.”Still, it hasn’t been all clear sailing for Cagliari this season.The team lost its opening two matches and drew negative attention for racist chants aimed at Inter striker Romelu Lukaku.“The most frustrating thing www.thetopsoccer.com/club-team-kit/bayern-munich , considering (the island’s) history of emigration, is to be considered a racist city,” Giulini said in an interview with Corriere della Sera in the aftermath of the Lukaku chants. “Even if it was just a few imbeciles, that doesn’t take away the fact that it needs to be eliminated.”SMALLING’S STATUSOn loan from Manchester United, Chris Smalling has quickly become an indispensable player for Roma in central defense.“Smalling has fully adjusted to the game here, he is playing well and he is a very important player for us,” Roma coach Paulo Fonseca said following the team’s 2-1 win over Napoli on Saturday.Roma already seems interested in keeping Smalling after the loan ends in June but United would likely request a transfer fee of 15-20 million euros ($16.5-22 million).DE LIGT’S DILEMMAMatthijs de Ligt is having an up and down time after becoming the most expensive defender in Serie A history when Juventus signed him from Ajax for 75 million euros ($85 million).The Netherlands international conceded penalties to Inter and Lecce with handballs this season and appeared to get away with another handball in the first half of Saturday’s derby with Torino before scoring the winner in the second half.“He had his hand in the wrong place at the wrong time and his foot in the right place at the right time,” Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri said with a touch of irony.