David de Gea denies ‘sex party’ claims

Spanish soccer star David de Gea has denied allegations that he organized a sex party with prostitutes for two fellow footballers in 2012.

De Gea, who is with Spain’s national team in France for the Euro 2016 tournament, told reporters Friday that the claims were “a lie and utterly false.”

Renato Sanches, 18 -- Portugal and Bayern Munich —

He's one of the most expensive teenagers in history after opting to join German champion Bayern for an initial fee of €35 million ($40 million) on a five-year deal.
One of Europe's hottest prospects, the dreadlocked 18-year-old can tackle, shoot, chase down lost causes and is extremely fit -- so is it any wonder he received multiple offers from across Europe?
All the interest came despite the central midfielder only making his debut for Benfica, who he joined as a nine-year-old, in October 2015. A month later, the Lisbon-born youngster was starting in the Champions League -- and by the end of the season, he had his first league winner's medal as well.
In March, Sanches -- who has Cape Verdean roots -- made his Portugal debut. It came days after he joined Bayern, which described him as "dynamic, good tackler and technically skilled" upon his signing. It's been quite a season.

Dele Alli, 20 -- England and Tottenham Hotspur —

Alli shone during his debut English Premier League campaign, impressing with his ability while also becoming the youngest midfielder to hit 10 goals in a season. Add his nine assists to that and it's easy to understand why the lanky midfielder was named PFA Young Player of the Year.
He was key to Tottenham's best Premier League finish in years. His three-match ban at the end of the season resulted in Spurs failing to win a game and -- having been challenging for the title with him -- dropping from second place to third.
With a fine first touch, eye for a pass and a ghost-like ability to drift into scoring positions, Alli has been earning rich acclaim.
Alex Ferguson compared him to Paul Gascoigne, a hero of England's 1990 World Cup team, while Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard said Alli is better at his age than he was.
He arrived at Tottenham from lower-league MK Dons with a goalscoring reputation and, after a slow start, the goals began to flow -- including a stunning swivel-and-volley against Crystal Palace.
England fans will hope Alli can continue his near-telepathic understanding with club and country teammate Harry Kane, who benefited from seven of Alli's nine assists this year.

Victor Lindel?f, 21 -- Sweden and Benfica —

Type Victor Lindelof into Google and you'll see a list of the world's biggest clubs linked with him: Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United lead the way.
The level of interest is surprising given the 21-year-old central defender only made his debut for Benfica, who he joined in 2011, in January.
He may have started the season as fourth choice but he took his chance with both hands when it arrived.
Nicknamed the "Iceman" because of his seemingly-unflappable personality, the tall shaven-headed youngster was so impressive that he made his international debut in March.
He started friendlies against Turkey and Czech Republic that month, and is set to be a Sweden regular for years to come.

Arkadiusz Milik, 22 -- Poland and Ajax —

Since arriving at Ajax Amsterdam in 2014, the tall striker has steadily improved -- from 11 goals in 21 games in his debut season to 21 in 31 during the 2015-16 campaign.
A sign of how highly the Dutch club rated him is that Ajax handed Milik the No. 9 shirt for last season shortly after his original loan move from Bayer Leverkusen became permanent.
A keen dribbler who can score from distance with his trusty left foot, Milik endeared himself to the Ajax faithful when he plundered six goals in a cup tie.
At international level, he has also hit the ground running -- with 10 goals from 24 games after making his debut in 2012. Perhaps the most enjoyable came as Poland beat Germany, then recently-crowned as world champion, for the first time, winning 2-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier in October 2014.
That was one of six goals Milik, who has formed a good partnership with Robert Lewandowski up front, scored in nine Euro 2016 qualifiers.
He has been linked with English Premier League champion Leicester and Spain's five-time Europa League winner Sevilla.

Leroy Sane, 20 -- Germany and Schalke 04 —

His mother was an Olympic bronze medalist in gymnastics from Germany while his father played football for Senegal. Sane has managed to neatly combine the two, becoming a Germany football international.
The right winger made his debut for Schalke 04, where he came up through the ranks, in 2014. His rise has been such that then Bayern coach Pep Guardiola praised his "great talent" ahead of the teams' meeting last November.
That month Sane made his Germany debut in a 2-0 defeat against France in an international overshadowed by terror attacks. National coach Joachim Loew highlighted the youngster's pace, technique and desire to take on opponents.
A dribbler who can break a game with a bit of magic, the nimble Sane -- who already has a Champions League goal at the Bernabeu to his name -- can play anywhere behind the striker.
He may be tied to Schalke until 2019, but that isn't stopping an avalanche of media interest about a possible move to Bayern, with Guardiola's Manchester City and Jose Mourinho's Manchester United also heavily linked.

Breel Embolo, 19 -- Switzerland and Basel —

He's not even 20 but Embolo has already won three Swiss league titles. Since scoring five minutes into his league debut in March 2014, the burly striker has plundered 20 goals in 58 games.
Both physically and technically strong, Embolo has explosive pace and can drop into central midfield if needs be, as he has already proven both domestically and in the Champions League.
Just a year on from his Basel debut, he was in the senior Switzerland team -- a disappointment for the land of his birth, Cameroon, which had hoped to lure him instead.
Embolo is likely to start the Euros on the bench but should feature in all three group games.
With Basel having turned down a January offer from Wolfsburg, the youngster is now being linked with Tottenham -- perhaps a smart move from the London club, as the player's stock is set to rise in France.

Pavel Kaderabek, 24 -- Czech Republic and Hoffenheim —

Will Euro 2016 be the tournament that catapults this marauding right-back into the limelight?
Once a laboring winger, Kaderabek's fortunes were turned on their head when he was repositioned to defense. Having failed to stand out in midfield, he immediately shone in his new role -- ending his maiden season at right-back for Sparta Prague with five goals, 10 assists and a league and cup double to his name.
The following season, 2014-15, Kaderabek was voted the Czech league's best player even though Sparta's trophy cabinet lay bare. He was soon on his way to Germany's Hoffenheim, where his contract expires in 2019.
He has goals in his locker -- having scored in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Iceland -- and allies super fitness with good pace.
That said, the Czechs like to play attacking football under coach Pavel Vrba, meaning the stocky Kaderabek will have his work cut out in France shuffling up and down the flank.

Oguzhan Ozyakup, 23 -- Turkey and Besiktas —

An attacking central midfielder who has been compared to Mesut Ozil, Ozyakup actually began his career at the German's current club Arsenal -- only to leave after making one solitary appearance in an English League Cup tie in 2011.
But that wasn't for any lack of talent.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Ozyakup was "top quality" and "technically very good," while also praising his "very good stamina" and "good final pass."
However, the Frenchman said the player had "too much competition" for a first-team place. Instead, Netherlands-born Ozyakup moved to Turkey in 2012, where his Besiktas coach Slaven Bilic made the Ozil comparison both on account of his ability and physique.
Key to Besiktas winning the 2015-16 league title, the former Dutch youth international changed national allegiance. So it was with no little irony that his first international goal came against Holland in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

Euro 2016: The Next Generation

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“I am the first to be shocked by the news. I want to deny any allegations,” the goalkeeper said.

“They can publish whatever they want. It’s all false. This gives me extra strength.”

He added, “It’s all in my lawyers’ hands.”

His comments were posted on the Spanish national team’s verified Twitter account and reported on its website.

De Gea spoke following Spanish newspaper El Diario’s report of a witness account in the trial against pornography entrepreneur Torbe.

Torbe – real name Ignacio Allende Fernandez – was arrested in April on multiple charges including sexual exploitation, child pornography and money laundering.

El Diario said the witness accused De Gea and Torbe of arranging for her and another woman to meet the other two footballers, who like De Gea were at the time also members of Spain’s Under-21 team. It said the witness accused the two men of sexually assaulting the women at a hotel in Madrid.

CNN contacted the Spanish national team for comment but received no response Friday.

De Gea, 25, started his career with Atletico Madrid and made his senior debut in 2009.

Considered one of the world’s best young goalkeepers, he was signed by English team Manchester United in 2011 and is still its first-choice after a move to Real Madrid fell through in August 2015.

He has represented his country nine times at senior level, and was a member of Spain’s title-winning teams at the European U21 Championship in 2011 and 2013.

De Gea (C) warms up with fellow Spain keepers Sergio Rico (L) and Iker Casillas in La Rochelle, France.

De Gea did not play at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but is vying with longtime No. 1 keeper Iker Casillas and Sergio Rico for a starting place at Euro 2016, which runs from June 10-July 10.

Host nation France kicked off the tournament Friday, while defending champion Spain’s first game is against the Czech Republic on Monday in Toulouse.

“I am very calm. I am looking forward to practice and to continue enjoying what I love most,” De Gea said Friday, adding that he heard about the news while in his hotel room.

“I told my family. They’re calm because they know me.”

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Updated 7:41 AM EDT, Sat June 11, 2016

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