Former Manchester United star Nicky Butt has appeared in court, charged with assault by beating and criminal damage.
Butt, 44, is now United's head of first team development and is also a joint owner of Salford City.
He denies assaulting his wife, Shelley Butt, to whom he has been married for 11 years, and damaging her £800 Apple iPhone 7 on April 16.
The charge sheet reads: "On April 16, without lawful excuse, damaged an Apple iPhone 7 to the value of £800 belonging to Shelley Butt intending to destroy property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged."
Butt, dressed in a grey coat and a white shirt and tie, spoke only to confirm his name and address from the dock.
His representative, Lisa Roberts QC, told Judge James Hatton that her client "strenuously denies" the allegations.
She requested the trial should be heard in front of a district judge, while Joanne Cronshaw, for the prosecution, requested a two-day trial.
Ms Cronshaw said: ''There are a number of witnesses and the trial will take at least a day and a half to two days.
"There was scratch to the hand caused within the incident relating to the first charge.''
Butt, now of Bowdon, Trafford, denies the charge of assault by beating and a charge of criminal damage.
He has been granted unconditional bail and is now due to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on February 27 next year for the trial.
