Gemma Atkinson, Cristiano Ronaldo’s former girlfriend, shared that she was offered a substantial amount of money to publicly criticize him after their breakup, but she declined.
The two dated briefly in 2007 during Ronaldo’s early days at Manchester United. Atkinson has consistently maintained a respectful tone when discussing their relationship over the years.
Gemma Atkinson declined money to criticize Cristiano Ronaldo
Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images
Atkinson discussed the incident during an interview with Key 103 Radio, mentioning the pressure she encountered after their split.
“After we broke up, I was offered a lot of money to speak poorly about him, but I didn’t want to because I had nothing negative to say,” she said.
Despite the financial offer, Atkinson expressed no desire to contribute to tabloid stories. Her choice highlighted a contrast to many high-profile breakups that often involve public disagreements. She made it clear that she had no negative comments about the legendary footballer.
Their relationship ended amicably, and since then, Atkinson has built a successful career in television and radio, while Ronaldo has established himself as one of the greatest football players in history.
Gemma Atkinson preferred privacy over headlines
Atkinson’s decision reflects her overall approach to her personal life.
Instead of leveraging Ronaldo’s fame, she chose to maintain her privacy. Over the years, she has stated that their breakup was straightforward and prefers not to discuss it publicly.
Ronaldo’s career has seen numerous achievements and records since their time together, but Atkinson’s remarks illustrate that not all high-profile relationships end in tension. According to her, there was simply nothing negative to share.