Brazilian striker Ronaldo admits to being ashamed after a bizarre run-in
with a trio of transvestites in Rio de Janeiro last week.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL  (MAY 04, 2008) TV GLOBO -

Brazilian striker Ronaldo said Sunday (May 04) that he was ashamed
of himself after getting involved in an incident with transvestites in Rio de
Janeiro last week and said it had damaged his reputation for ever.
    "I've done something really stupid in my personal life, we are all
subject to making mistakes and I made a mistake in looking for this," the
AC Milan player said in an interview with Globo television.
    "When I saw that they were transvestites and I tried to stop there
and go home, it was then the extortion started," he added in his first
public appearance since the incident last Monday.
    On Tuesday, police said they were considering charging one of the
transvestites -- named as Andre Luiz Ribeiro Albertino -- with extortion and
stealing Ronaldo's driver's license.
    Ronaldo, who gave the interview at his waterside home in Angra dos
Reis, admitted that the incident had done irreparable damage to his
reputation.
    "This was the worst decision of my personal life, it took on a
very big dimension and had worldwide repercussion," he said. "It
will stain my personal life for ever."
    He said the evening began after he had a "silly" fight with
his girlfriend.
    Police said Ronaldo, who is recovering from a knee injury, went to a
motel in Rio de Janeiro's upscale Barra da Tijuca neighborhood with three call
girls only to find out they were transvestites.