Former FC Barcelona striker David Villa was recently accused of sexually harassing a women during his time at New York City FC, and has now reacted to the accusation.
The 38-year-old called time on a trophy-laden career – during which he lifted a FIFA World Cup, a UEFA European Championship title and the UEFA Champions League, among others – in 2019.
He hung up his boots after a stint in Japan with Vissel Kobe, but was recently accused of groping a woman during his time in the US.
"I thought I was getting the opportunity of a lifetime when I got that internship (at New York City FC)," the unnamed woman wrote on Twitter, as per The Sun.
"What I got was David Villa touching me every f*****g day and my bosses thinking it was great comedic material. Women brave enough to tell their stories this loudly are my heroes.
"I still find it hilarious that I was constantly told I had a terrible attitude at that job like I wasn't showing up every day knowing I was gonna be groped or mocked or two hand shoved in the back."
In response, the prolific forward insisted that the woman's claims were false.
"These accusations (of sexual harassment) are absolutely false," he said in a lengthy statement.
"I have not received any communication on this subject before this publication on social media, either from this person or from New York City FC.
"I understand, from what I have read on Twitter, that she was an intern and left the club at the end of 2019, a year after I left.
"I have never heard any of these accusations from the club or from any other source until they were posted last weekend."
