Jul 8, 2008, 10:05 GMT
Madonna is in "a relationship" with US baseball star Alex Rodriguez, a lawyer for his wife has claimed.
Madonna (L), and British director Guy Ritchie arrive at the festival palace for the gala screening of US director Steven Soderbergh's film 'Che' running in competition at the 61st edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. US popstar Madonna and her husband British EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA
Despite the singer not being named in divorce papers served by Cynthia to her sports star husband yesterday (07.07.08), one of her lawyers Earle Lilly insists Madonna and Alex are "still together", even though Madonna vehemently denies romance rumours.
Lilly said: "The correct analysis is a relationship. Some people categorise an affair as sexual infidelity. We're not claiming that - it's an affair of the heart."
Another of Cynthia's lawyers, Maurice Kutner, claimed Alex's association with Madonna - whose marriage to Guy Ritchie is also said to be on the rocks - was "the latest in a series of events" which caused the marriage to fail.
According to gossip website TMZ, in the legal papers, Alex is accused of "emotionally abandoning" his wife and children. The documents also state the marriage is irretrievably broken due to the 34-year-old New York Yankees player's "extra-marital affairs and other marital misconduct".
Kutner said: "Cynthia feels she has exhausted every opportunity to salvage the marriage, and that Alex emotionally abandoned her and the children."
Madonna, 49, and Alex are said to have become friendly after meeting at the gym.
Reports claim the baseball star has made a series of visits to Madonna's New York apartment and both have recently been seen without their wedding rings.
Only yesterday, Madonna denied being involved with Alex - who is rumoured to have converted to Kabbalah, the mystical Jewish faith followed by the '4 Minutes' singer.
She said: "I know Alex Rodriguez through Guy Oseary, who manages both of us. I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to follow."
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