Inter Milan and Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni is under investigation for allegedly soliciting sex from a child.
It is part of a larger inquiry by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office into an alleged sex ring.
Bastoni has been summoned to appear before prosecutors Friday. He is alleged to have paid for sex with one of the girls, who was 17 at the time, in June 2020.
Because she was a minor at the time, paid sex would constitute soliciting sex from a child.
"My client is very shaken," Bastoni's lawyer, Salvatore Scuto, said. "I can rule out that he ever engaged in paid sexual relations, let alone with minors."
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reports the girl has already been questioned and while she has admitted to staying at Bastoni's house, she denies having sex with the player.
It is the culmination of a nightmare few months for Bastoni, 27, who was sent off during Italy's crucial World Cup qualifying playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Azzurri went on to lose a penalty shootout and miss out on a third straight World Cup.
Bastoni and his family were also abused on social media after an incident while playing for Inter on Feb. 14 against fierce rival Juventus.
Bastoni appeared to dive in a successful attempt to get an opposition player sent off.
