Robinho sentenced to nine years in prison for sexual assault

Former AC Milan and Manchester City striker Robinho has been sentenced to nine years in jail by a court in Milan on charges of sexual assault.

Robinho's lawyer said the 33-year-old, who is currently playing for Atletico Mineiro in his native Brazil, denied the charges and will appeal against the court's decision.

News agency ANSA reported that five other men were also accused of violently sexually assaulting an Albanian woman and that another member of the group, Ricardo Falco, was also sentenced to nine years in jail.

The other four men had not been found by Italian police, ANSA said.

Robinho's lawyer Marisa Alija said: "We clarify that he has already defended himself from these allegations, and insist he had no participation in that episode."

Brazil does not extradite its own citizens when they are sentenced in other countries.

Robinho began his career with Santos before leaving Brazil in 2005 for a three-year spell with Real Madrid.

He then joined Manchester City and moved to AC Milan in 2010, spending five years under contract with the Serie A club. After a brief stay at Chinese team, Guangzhou Evergrande, he joined Atletico Mineiro last year.

He has made 100 international appearances for Brazil.