Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United's fleet-footed winger, was arrested today in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a woman at a hotel in London's West End.

Metropolitan Police confirmed that the 20-year-old star was detained after voluntarily answering bail at a police station in central London.

The Sun reported earlier this month that an anonymous Premiership player had been questioned by detectives following allegations of rape made by two women. They said that they had been sexually assaulted by the star and a friend in a penthouse suite at the Sanderson Hotel.

The newspaper later reported that the young international had emphatically denied the accusation, with a man described as 'a friend' reported as saying: "It is a set-up".

Manchester United said last week that there was "nothing sinister" behind a delay in renewing Ronaldo's contract. Sir Alex Ferguson said in June that the Portuguese international would sign his new deal the next day and no explanation has been offered for the hold-up.

The club was not releasing a statement about Ronaldo’s arrest. Spokesman Phil Townsend said: "We’re not commenting at the moment."

A spokesman for the Met said: "Two men today attended by appointment a police station in connection with an investigation following allegations of serious sexual assault at a central London hotel on Sunday October 2.

"One man, in his 20's, has been arrested on suspicion of rape by officers from Met's Sapphire team. He is currently being interviewed and remains in custody at the police station. The second man who attended - in his 30's - was not arrested."

Ronaldo, who played in United's goalless draw with Lille last night, has recently purchased a £1.5 million mansion in the Cheshire stockbroker belt. He previously lived in Wilmslow.

The allegations were made after United's 3-2 victory against Fulham on October 1, after which the footballer stayed overnight in the capital.

The investigation is the latest in a succession of alleged incidents involving footballers. Last month, a jury at Croydon Crown Court cleared Graham Stack, the Arsenal goalkeeper, of rape.

Robin van Persie, the Arsenal forward, was held in police custody for two weeks in his native Holland earlier this year after claims were made that he raped a beauty queen in Rotterdam, charges he denies.

Last year, a 17-year-old girl claimed Carlton Cole and Titus Bramble had raped her in a London hotel, while three Leicester City players were also accused of similar crimes in La Manga, Spain. There was insufficient evidence to proceed against either Cole or Bramble and all charges against the Leicester players were dropped.

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