Former Portuguese winger Fabio Paim, 38, has been charged with rape, criminal damage and trespassing in Portugal following an alleged assault on a university student.
The ex-Chelsea loanee is scheduled to appear in court on November 18.
According to local reports, Paim broke into a flat in Faro, Algarve, on April 20, 2023, then allegedly pulled the woman's hair, slammed her against a wall and raped her.
The victim, described as being in her 20s, was said to be the flatmate of a woman Paim had previously met in a bar. She reportedly confronted him when he tried to enter one of the rooms.
Authorities say DNA found on the victim's clothing linked Paim to the scene.
Paim earned 42 youth caps for Portugal but never played for the senior team. Cristiano Ronaldo once praised him as a top prospect, saying, "If you think I'm good, just wait until you see Fabio Paim."
When he signed for Manchester United in 2003, Ronaldo reportedly made that comment.
At age 13, Paim was reportedly paid £4,400 per week plus a £130,000 annual bonus.
He joined Chelsea on loan in August 2008 under Luiz Felipe Scolari, appearing only for the reserves before a loan to Rio Ave.
Afterward, Paim said he was frustrated by a lack of first-team chances, recalling, "I often trained with the first team but I didn't play... If it had been today I would have had more patience."
Born to Angolan parents, Paim faced rape accusations in 2012 and 2015, claiming the latter was a false claim for money.
He was also once linked to a heroin-transporting gang, though investigators cleared him, and later received a suspended sentence for drug trafficking.
After the suspension ended, he posted, "One of the most difficult periods of my life has come to an end. You pay for your mistakes, and I've paid for mine."
In September 2024, it emerged that Paim had appeared in an X-rated film.
