Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has issued a strongly-worded response after allegations surfaced suggesting he had been unfaithful during his relationship with television presenter Maya Jama.
The Portugal international described the claims as “unacceptable” and said he felt compelled to speak publicly after repeated reports began affecting those close to him, including members of his family.
Dias and Maya, one of Britain’s most recognisable television personalities, ended their relationship earlier this year after spending around 18 months together.
While the separation attracted widespread media attention, both parties had largely remained silent regarding the reasons behind the break-up.
However, speculation surrounding the end of their relationship continued to grow, with rumours emerging that the Manchester City star had cheated on the Love Island presenter.
The defender has now firmly denied those allegations, insisting that neither his actions nor his intentions ever crossed any boundaries during their time together.
In a lengthy statement shared on social media, Dias explained that seeing false stories repeatedly circulated had reached a point where he could no longer ignore them.
The 29-year-old revealed that one particular conversation with his grandfather ultimately convinced him to address the situation publicly.
“I feel that when my 85-year-old grandad is asking me if I’ve cheated on my girlfriend, because he’s seen it repeatedly on the news, that’s where I draw the line on what’s acceptable and what’s not.
“Maya and I have always had a relationship built on mutual respect. No line was ever crossed in that regard.
“A lie told often enough can start to feel like the truth and for that reason I tell you that I didn’t cheat, nor did I ever have the intention or temptation to. I believe Maya deserves all the respect in the world.
“The reasons why we broke up are private and belong to us and we’ve both dealt with it in a very mature way. I’ve always chosen to remain silent on these matters as my personal life is my business only.
“But I also believe it’s wrong to lie to people and to portray an opposite image of someone just for clickbait. Respect me, respect Maya, and understand that not always one has to betray the other in order for a relationship to end.”
The statement quickly attracted attention across social media platforms, with supporters praising Dias for directly addressing the rumours after weeks of speculation.
While footballers often avoid discussing personal matters in public, the City defender’s comments reflected his frustration at seeing what he believes to be inaccurate narratives repeatedly shared online and in the media.
Dias and Maya relationship under the spotlight
Dias and Maya became one of the most talked-about celebrity couples after reports first linked them together towards the end of 2024.
It is widely believed that the pair initially met during the MTV European Music Awards held in Manchester.
Their relationship soon attracted significant public interest, combining the profile of one of the Premier League’s leading defenders with one of television’s most popular presenters.
Throughout their time together, both maintained relatively private lives despite constant attention from fans and media outlets.
Their relationship appeared stable for much of its duration, with neither publicly discussing any major difficulties.
However, observers began to notice signs that the couple may have separated when photographs of them together disappeared from their respective social media accounts.
The removal of those images immediately fuelled speculation regarding their future and prompted questions about whether the relationship had come to an end.
Shortly afterwards, reports emerged claiming that the pair had decided to go their separate ways.
Although neither Dias nor Maya initially commented publicly, sources close to the former couple suggested that demanding professional commitments played a significant role in the decision.
At the time, an insider reportedly described the situation as a natural conclusion rather than the result of conflict or wrongdoing.
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They explained: “Maya and Ruben had a wonderful time together and there’s still a lot of love and respect between them.
“But with both of their careers going into overdrive this summer, they realised that the relationship had run its course and it was better to separate.
“Maya is heading into an intense filming schedule and Ruben’s focus is fully on the World Cup, so they’ve decided to part ways.”
Those remarks painted a picture of two high-profile individuals facing increasingly demanding schedules.
For Maya, the coming months are expected to involve a packed television calendar, with several major broadcasting commitments requiring significant travel and preparation.
Dias, meanwhile, remains focused on both club and international responsibilities. As one of Portugal’s most experienced defenders, he is expected to play a key role as attention turns towards future international competitions.
