A former Premier League footballer accused of raping a woman he met in a nightclub has told a court she is lying.
Ex-Sunderland player Cabral, whose real name is Adilson Tavares Varela, told Hull Crown Court he did not know why the woman would try to destroy his life.
The woman has told the jury that Varela pinned her down on his bed and raped her after they met during a night out in Newcastle.
But the footballer has said they had consensual sex after going back to his Gateshead flat with friends, including retired French international Anthony Reveillere.
In cross-examination, the footballer denied raping the woman twice.
Neil Usher, prosecuting, said: "Are you saying she's lying?"
Varela (27) replied: "She's lying."
Judge Jeremy Richardson QC then asked the defendant: "Can you think of anything you may have done that would cause her to lie?"
The footballer said: "I never raped her, I was not aggressive towards her.
"When you are accused of raping someone, you then sit down and start thinking thoroughly why would someone come up with all these lies if not trying to destroy your life."
The midfielder was asked about a number of other professional footballers named in court as having had sexual relations with the woman.
Varela said he had not seen the woman with the footballers but did not believe anyone was trying to harm her by lying.
He said he was given the information by Newcastle United defender Kevin Mbabu.
He said: "Kevin told me she had had a sexual relation with all these players. I was also told that she was out a great deal in Newcastle. I didn't see this but I believe him."
Mr Usher said: "It could all be a complete pack of lies. It could all be malicious invention and gossip, couldn't it?"
Varela replied: "I do not believe that people are trying to harm (the woman) by lying. Why would all these people say this?"
Cape Verde-born Varela, who now plays for Swiss team FC Zurich, gave evidence with help from an interpreter.
He denies two counts of rape.