How is it like to date Cristiano Ronaldo? Ex-girlfriend Gemma Atkinson reveals

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of his generation. The 37-year-old, who made a return to Manchester United last summer after 12 years, is constantly hitting the headlines. Even as rumours suggest a possible move away from Old Trafford is on the cards, another piece of information now is gaining attention among Ronaldo fans. Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson has opened up about what it is like to date the legendary striker.

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During Ronaldo's first season at Manchester United in 2007, Atkinson was involved with him. But the model admitted that some of her dates with the football player were quite casual, even though he is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. 

Speaking to Manchester's Key 103 radio station, she remembered a day when the couple visited her home to enjoy cups of tea and watch Only Fools and Horses. "Genuinely!" she said. "I don't know if he's into it now, but he seemed to enjoy it." 

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Atkinson also claimed that she declined enormous sums of money to speak openly about her relationship with the Portuguese superstar, who is thought to be worth more than 350 million pounds and has 460 million Instagram followers. "When we did split up, I got offered so much money to speak about him. And I didn't want that," she revealed.

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Gemma Atkinson was engaged to former Brentford and Everton footballer Marcus Bent in 2008 and to Britain's Got Talent star Liam Richards in 2013. Now, she is engaged to dancer Gorka Marquez after the pair met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017. Their daughter, Mia, was born in July 2019. 

As for Ronaldo, the former Real Madrid and Juventus star is very much in love with his partner Georgina Rodriguez. He is also a proud father of five. His first son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, 12, was born on 17 June 2010 in the United States via a surrogate. 

In June 2017, it was revealed that he had fathered twins via a surrogate mother in America – five-year-old Eva and Matteo. A month later, Cristiano confirmed in an interview that he and Georgina were expecting their first baby together, with daughter Alana, four, arriving in November 2017.

In October 2021, the couple confirmed that they were expecting twins. Tragically, they lost their son shortly after his birth in April this year. They later revealed that they had named their baby daughter Bella Esmeralda. The family recently enjoyed a vacation on Spain's Majorca island.

Also read: 'Lots of love': Ronaldo's partner Georgina shares special moments from Majorca vacation