Footballers’ wives and girlfriends who rebelled, from slamming famous cities to attacking players’ ‘disgusting’ clubs
FOOTBALLERS’ Wags have become a force of their own in recent years.
From hogging the front pages as celebrities in their own right to branching out independently with their own business ventures, many are happy to step out of the shadow of their other halves.
But, maybe, these women took it a little too far when they dissed their player’s clubs, cities they play in and even rival players.
Here’s a selection of footballers’ Wags who have rebelled.
Wanda Nara
One of the most fiery Wags around, Argentine beauty Wanda is the ex-wife of PSG forward Mauro Icardi.
When Inter Milan brought in Romelu Lukaku to replace her former husband, the blonde beauty was not impressed.
After it was posed to her on Italian TV that Lukaku was more of a team player than Icardi, she retored: “It would be good to see [Lukaku] in big games too.
“He hasn’t scored in the Champions League, he’ll watch the knockout rounds on TV.”
She added: “The last No. 9 only scored about 150 goals for Inter.”
Sara Gundogan
Despite boasting plenty of restaurants in the Michelin guide, Manchester’s cuisine doesn’t cut it for Man City ace Ilkay Gundogan’s wife, Sara.
When quizzed on her favourite restaurant in the city, she said: “Sorry I’m sad to be honest but nothing. I tried so bad to find a good restaurant but… horrible food everywhere.
“Can’t find a real Italian or good sushi or just fresh food .. everything frozen. Restaurants here are just focus on making money with drinks and shot like night clubs not quality food.
“Maybe in London but in Manchester nothing. I’m sorry.”
Georgina Rodriguez
Bona fide celeb Georgina is not one to mince her words – and it was ex-Portugal boss Fernando Santos who felt her wrath during the World Cup in Qatar.
Santos, a father-figure to her husband Cristiano Ronaldo, made the difficult decision to drop CR7 against Morocco.
Portugal went on to lose the game 1-0 and were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.
After the game, Georgina shared on Instagram: “Today your friend and coach made a bad decision. That friend for whom you have so many words of admiration and respect.
“The same as when you got into the game, he saw how everything changed, but it was too late.
“The best player in the world, his most powerful weapon, cannot be underestimated.
“You can’t stand up for someone who doesn’t deserve it either. Life gives us lessons.
“Today we have not lost, we have learned.”
Maja Nilsson
Victor Lindelof’s missus Maja is a blogger from Sweden – with a huge social media following.
So, it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed when she blasted Man Utd’s prices for their ‘disgusting’ boxes at Old Trafford.
“Here the players have the option to rent a box and I’m not even going to tell you for how much but a disgusting amount of money,” she said on her podcast Livet På Läktaren.
“And if you don’t buy one you’re considered to be a loser.
“But having a box is wonderful because you have your own waiter.”
Edurne Garcia
While crosstown rival Sara had it in for Manchester’s restaurant scene, pop star Edurne dislikes the whole city itself.
In fact, David De Gea’s wife branded the place “uglier than the back of a fridge”.
Madrid-born Garciaalso told Spanish TV the only reason she spends time in Manchester is because of her beau’s football career.
Pablo Motos, host of entertainment show El Hormiguero, kicked off the discussion asking: “I’ve been told Manchester is uglier than the back of a fridge.”
Garcia replied: “It’s not very nice, that’s for sure. You have to hunt out specific places, the nicer places.
“But even then Spain is nicer. The reason I like it is because David’s there. With him being there, everything looks wonderful.”
Eliana Guercio
If their boxes are getting slammed, it’s the way Man Utd handle transfers that also got under the skin of this particular Wag.
Sergio Romero’s wife Eliana was fuming they didn’t let him leave for Everton on transfer deadline day in 2020, after all he had given the club too.
She blasted on Instagram: “Sergio Romero worked hard for the club. The last trophy they won, they lifted it with him. He helped the team reach four finals/semi-finals and then he was left on the bench only to lose them all.”
She then pleaded with them to let him go – and demanded respect for her husband.
Jessica Contento
When ex-Arsenal star Lukas Podolski generalised Wags and insisted they “got on his nerves”, Jessica – the wife of German star Diego Contento – barked back.
She told BILD: “In general, I cannot understand his statement. Here the cliché is taken up again, against which many player women, including myself, have been fighting for years.
“That’s not okay, he lumps everyone together.”
Contento continued: “The fact is that with such a statement you have no chance of being perceived differently, for example as an entrepreneur, mother or working woman who does not depend on the man.
“But when you make such a statement as such a great personality, you reinforce the negative image of the player’s wife, with which many women struggle.
“That also speaks against the principles that a football player pursues in a club.”