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Gemma Atkinson has said she was once ‘offered lots of money’ to speak negatively about Cristiano Ronaldo after their short-lived romance ended back in 2007.
The actress and footballer, both 41, set tongues wagging when they stepped out together nearly two decades ago during his time at Manchester United.
Gemma was a local IT girl and lived close by due to her northern role in Hollyoaks, making them the talk of the town.
She previously revealed during an interview how Cristiano attempted to win her over with tea and episodes of the classic British series Only Fools And Horses.
But when they broke up, Gemma was asked to spill the beans on their brief relationship.
In an unearthed interview on Manchester’s Key 103 radio, Gemma shared at the time: ‘When we did split up, I got offered so much money to speak about him and I didn’t want that.’
‘And I didn’t want that because there was nothing negative about him, so I don’t see any reason to tell bad things about him.’
The soap star is now married to Gorka Marquez and shares two children Mia, six, and Thiago, three.
Meanwhile, Cristiano is engaged to fiancée Georgina Rodríguez.
The couple share daughters Alana and Bella together and welcomed twins Eva Maria and Mateo through surrogacy.
Bella had a twin brother named Angel, but he sadly passed away shortly after birth. Ronaldo has a final child, Cristiano Jr, from an earlier relationship.
Georgia and Ronaldo met in 2016 when she caught his attention working as a sales assistant in a Madrid Gucci shop.
Earlier this month, Georgia shared a glimpse inside her and Cristiano’s very lavish lifestyle in Saudi Arabia, after he became the world’s first billionaire footballer.
The influencer, 32, took to Instagram with a slew of stunning snaps as she showed off the couple’s lavish home and some of their many sports cars.
Georgia, who toted a £20K Hermes bag in one photo, posed up a storm on the bonnet of a pricey motor, before being chauffeur driven in the back of another.
The couple’s swanky family home is all white and incredibly minimal with thick cream rugs, modern furniture and a huge TV.
Cristiano could also be seen spending quality time with their children, before whisking them off sightseeing and for a spot of indoor skiing.
She captioned the post simply: ‘Home’.
They moved to Saudi Arabia after Cristiano signed for Al-Nassr in 2022 in a sensational £175million-a-year contract following his tumultuous exit from Manchester United.
His decision to move to Saudi Arabia effectively ended his career at the top level. It was thought the footballer had been hoping to secure a switch to a Champions League club before the move, but it never materialised.
Cristiano is making a remarkable £300-a-minute in Saudi Arabia but last year admitted he wishes he could leave and only play for Portugal.
He also owns a stake in the club itself, boosting his astronomical net worth even more.
He joined arch rival Lionel Messi in taking up a promotional position with the gulf nation, which has faced criticism for its human rights record, as well as crackdowns on women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ people and those who speak out against the rule of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
