Georgina Rodriguez has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo never had any intention of signing for Atletico Madrid before his record-breaking move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
The 29-year-old made a rare revelation about the inside world of her partner’s footballing career during her first-ever TV interview on Wednesday night ahead of the second series of her new Netflix show called 'I Am Georgina' due out on Friday. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, 38, was repeatedly linked to the LaLiga side last summer as he looked to secure a move that would give him Champions League football.
Reports at the time said Atletico Madrid were willing to offer Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata to the Premier League side in exchange for the Portuguese captain. Supporters of the Spanish side reacted by releasing a statement opposing a deal and held up anti-Ronaldo banners during a friendly match in an attempt to quash any potential deal.
Diego Simeone went on to claim Ronaldo could never have joined Atletico Madrid given his standing at local rivals Real. And on Wednesday night Cristiano’s model and influencer girlfriend confirmed of his much-talked-about possible signing: “That option was never something he had in mind.”
Georgina put paid to the Atletico Madrid rumours as she revealed renovation work on their mansion just outside of Madrid has now finished and she thought Ronaldo’s 12-year-old son, who they call Junior, had a good chance of becoming a professional footballer.
Asked whether the couple planned on living in the Spanish capital full-time after Ronaldo retires, she said: “We want to keep a house in Madrid operative because you just never know. We have a lot of children. Junior is getting older and wants to become a professional footballer and we don’t know what the future holds.”
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The former £10-an-hour shop worker, who admitted it was “love at first sight” when her current partner walked into the Gucci store in Madrid where she was working when they first met in 2016, also said moving to Saudi Arabia had changed their family routine.
Georgina, interviewed on popular Spanish show El Hormiguero, said: “In Saudi Arabia they train later because of the climate. In Manchester we all got up at the same time and had breakfast together before the children went to school.
“Now I get up at 6.30am and take the kids to school before going back home and Cristiano gets up later.”
Admitting she was no football lover, she added: “I’m not into football. I’ve always loved ballet and started working when I was young and because of my timetables I was never able to see matches.”
Cristiano left Man United by mutual consent last November following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he accused the club of betraying him and admitted he didn’t respect manager Erik ten Tag.
His £173 million-a-year move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr after the World Cup made him the highest-paid sportsman ever.
