Antony denies assault in first TV interview: 'I never touched her'

Antony spoke exclusively to SBT's Fofocalizando programme. Presenter Chris Flores showed a photo of Gabriela with a bleeding scalp but the Manchester United player denied that he had assaulted his former partner.

"Negative. At no time did I touch her," said the striker, who gave his side of the story.

"I left training in the morning. After training, I took my car and went to the hotel where she was. We had lunch, normal, chatted, normal. Everything went smoothly," he said.

"One thing that annoyed and irritated her was when I said: 'I have to go, because I have my commitments too'. I said I had to go, and that's when the argument broke out," added Antony.

The player admitted on the programme that there were occasional disagreements in their relationship. However, he claimed there was never any kind of physical aggression.

"I was sitting on the bed and she touched my face. She got upset, she broke a glass, she broke a plate. On the floor, but she threw it in my direction too. She came at me. At that moment, I held her (...) I didn't squeeze her, nothing. I didn't headbutt her," claimed the 23-year-old.

Last week, UOL revealed details of the player's alleged assault on his ex-girlfriend, DJ Gabriela Cavallin.

Antony allegedly physically assaulted the young woman on at least three occasions. The São Paulo Civil Police have opened an investigation into the player, who has been removed from the Brazilian national team.