Alex Rodriguez allegedly confessed his love for Madonna at the beginning of
this year.

The New York Yankees baseball star – whose close relationship with the
singer is a factor in his recent split from wife Cynthia, her lawyers claim
– told a pal he was besotted with Madonna as they had dinner at a restaurant
in January, during which Alex spent most of the evening texting her.

His friend told Us Weekly magazine: “He kept smiling, acting as if he was a
little kid. He told me it was Madonna he was texting. I was shocked. He
proceeded to say he was in love with her. I thought he was kidding but he
wasn’t.”

Just a few weeks after the dinner, Alex – who has two children with
estranged wife Cynthia – confirmed how much he had fallen for Madonna,
telling the same friend: “She’s my f***ing soulmate.”

Madonna – whose own marriage to director Guy Ritchie is allegedly on the
brink of collapse - has previously denied any involvement with the
sportsman, insisting they are just friends.

She was also furious her alleged relationship with Alex had been labeled an
"affair of the heart" by a lawyer for his wife.

A source involved with the divorce said: "Madonna is outraged. She told his
wife Cynthia's lawyers not to make any more statements about her - in short,
shut up."

Cynthia's legal team served her spouse with divorce papers earlier this
week.

Despite not being named in the documents, Cynthia's lawyers are still
attributing some of the blame for the break-up to Madonna.

One of Cynthia's legal representatives, Earle Lilly, said of Madonna and
Alex: "The correct analysis is a relationship. Some people categorize an
affair as sexual infidelity. We're not claiming that - it's an affair of the
heart."

Madonna’s spokeswoman yet again played down reports the singer and Guy – who
raise three children together – were set to split.

*Cynthia says she still loves A-Rod.