Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, made headlines recently for selling his £60,000 Porsche convertible for half the price in exchange for the phone number of Pussycat Dolls singer Kimberly Wyatt.
The football superstar was smitten with the stunning performer after watching her on X Factor during his first spell at Old Trafford. He enlisted the help of Manchester United masseuse Rod Thornley to get her number, offering to sell him his car if he succeeded.
In a recent interview with Undr The Cosh podcast, Thornley recounted the incredible 2009 anecdote and how he managed to cash in on the deal within 24 hours.
Thornley revealed that Ronaldo was leaving for Real Madrid at the end of the season and was eager to get Kimberly Wyatt’s phone number. Thornley asked him, “What’s in this for me?” Ronaldo replied, “You like my car?” Thornley had to admit that he did, so Ronaldo said,
“When I go to Real Madrid, I’ll sell it to you for half price.” Thornley quickly got Wyatt’s number, and Ronaldo sold him the car as promised at the end of the season for £30,000, which was half the original price.
Rod Thornley also claimed that he helped Ronaldo get a number for former X Factor judge Dannii Minogue. They supposedly went on a couple of dates, but things didn’t work out.
Ronaldo eventually settled down with Georgina Rodriguez, a former Gucci shop assistant, whom he met in Madrid. In 2018, the couple welcomed their first child together, and they have since had two more children.
Ronaldo, who is now 38, returned to Old Trafford last season before moving to Saudi side Al Nassr. He remains one of the most successful footballers of all time, with numerous records to his name.
However, this story is a reminder that even the biggest stars can be vulnerable to the charms of a beautiful woman. In this case, it cost Ronaldo a car, but it seems he has no regrets.
