By Micah Jonah, February 20, 2026
British television personality, Gemma Atkinson has revealed that she was offered a substantial sum of money to speak negatively about her former partner, Cristiano Ronaldo, following their breakup, but she declined the offer.
Atkinson, who dated Ronaldo during his early years at Manchester United, said she had “nothing negative” to say about the football star, therefore saw no reason to accept payment in exchange for criticism.
“When we broke up, I was offered a lot of money to speak badly about him, and I didn’t want it because I had nothing negative to say about him, so I see no reason to speak ill of him,” she stated.
The former couple were in a relationship in 2007 before parting ways later that year. At the time, Ronaldo was rising to global prominence with Manchester United and would later cement his legacy as one of football’s greatest, winning multiple Ballon d’Or awards and major league titles across England, Spain and Italy.
Atkinson’s comments have drawn attention on social media, with many praising her decision to avoid sensationalising her past relationship for financial gain.
Ronaldo, who has consistently remained in the public spotlight throughout his career, has not publicly responded to the remarks.
The revelation adds to ongoing public interest surrounding the personal lives of high-profile athletes and celebrities, particularly in cases where former partners are approached for media interviews following breakups.
