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***
After a packed schedule of matches, Manchester City were finally given a short break. No games for a few days. For Adriano, it was a rare chance to breathe—and more importantly, to spend some time with Kate before she left.
Her part of filming for "Avengers: Age of Ultron" in England had wrapped up. She was flying back to finish the rest of the movie elsewhere. They had been stealing moments together whenever possible, but it hadn't been easy.
Between her filming schedule and his games, their time was always rushed, always short. Now, with this window, they agreed to meet properly before she left.
Adriano kept it low-key. No big cars, no entourage. Just him and Raul, driving himself to a private section of the Manchester Airport where VIPs sometimes passed through quietly. Security was minimal. Raul stayed near the entrance to give them privacy.
A few staff around, but no noticeable fans or reporters. For a little while, it felt like they were just two people again—not a football star and a Hollywood actress, but Adriano and Kate.
She was already waiting when he arrived, wearing jeans, a stylish T shirt with jacket, and sunglasses. Still, to Adriano, she lit up the room the moment he saw her.
Kate smiled when she spotted him and walked quickly into his arms. They hugged tightly, neither wanting to let go.
"Proud of you," she said softly, her voice muffled against his chest. "Always."
Adriano smiled and kissed her forehead. "Come back soon. It's spooky living alone in that giant house."
Kate leaned back to look at him, her eyes teasing. "Maybe keep the lights on at night, big guy?"
He chuckled. "Maybe I'll just buy a few dogs."
They laughed together, the sound easy and real. For a moment, it felt like the world had slowed down just for them. No cameras, no schedules, no noise.
They leaned in and kissed—slow, deep, lingering. Neither wanted to be the first to pull away. When they finally did, Adriano pressed his forehead against hers and whispered, "I'll keep scoring goals. You keep taking over Hollywood."
Kate laughed, her smile bright. "Deal."
Another hug, tighter this time. As if they could hold off the goodbye just a little longer.
But time never waits. Her flight was boarding. She squeezed his hand one last time before picking up her bag.
"Love you," she said.
"Love you too," Adriano replied.
He stood there and watched her walk through the gates, disappearing around the corner. Only then did he turn and head back to his car, feeling the familiar weight of goodbye settling over him.
What he didn't notice—what neither of them noticed—was a lone figure tucked behind a pillar some distance away. A photographer. Lens out. Camera clicking away silently.
***
By the time Adriano was halfway back to Manchester, the damage was done.
His phone started buzzing. At first, he ignored it, thinking it was just the lads joking around in the team group chat. But then more messages kept coming. Then calls.
Then even Mendes texted playfully: "You might want to check the news. I really can't leave you alone, you insist on making headlines!"
Curious and a little uneasy, Adriano pulled into a service station and checked.
There they were. The photos. Clear as day. Him and Kate. Hugging. Kissing. The headlines were already running wild across tabloids, gossip sites, and social media.
"Adriano's Mystery Romance Revealed: Dating Hollywood Star Kate Upton!"
"Manchester's King in Love with America's Next Queen Bee!"
"City's Superstar Has a Superstar Girlfriend!"
There were even some worse ones, twisting the story into something dramatic. But most headlines were surprisingly positive, even if sensational.
Adriano shook his head and laughed under his breath. He wasn't exactly trying to hide it—but he also hadn't planned on announcing it to the world in a burst of tabloid frenzy.
By the time he pulled into his driveway, the noise online was louder than ever. Fans were already debating in forums and on social media.
Some were ecstatic:
"King Adriano and Queen Kate! We are SO back!"
"Hollywood money incoming to Manchester City, boys!"
Others were just having fun with it:
"Imagine Adriano doing post-match interviews with Captain America at his side."
"Next goal celebration needs to be a superhero pose."
Of course, not everyone was happy.
"Hope he doesn't get distracted," some fans muttered.
"Focus on the league, not on Hollywood."
Adriano wasn't worried, though. He trusted himself. He trusted Kate. And if the price of living his life openly was a few screaming headlines, so be it.
He tossed his phone onto the couch, changed into training gear, and headed to his personal gym in the basement. A quick workout to clear his head, to stay sharp.
Later that night, sitting on the patio under the chilly Manchester sky, he video-called Kate. She answered immediately, already in a hotel somewhere near her next shooting location.
"You're famous," she said, grinning at him through the screen.
"Me?" Adriano laughed. "You're the one they really care about. I'm just the guy you kissed at the airport."
Kate leaned closer to her camera. "I miss you already."
"Miss you too," he said quietly.
For a while, they just talked about nothing and everything. About her scenes coming up. About City's next matches. About maybe sneaking in a trip somewhere once their schedules allowed it.
When the call ended, Adriano sat there a moment longer, staring up at the stars.
He knew the press would talk. He knew fans would react. But in the end, none of it mattered compared to what was real between them.
The world could shout. He'd stay focused. On the pitch, he'd keep doing what he always did.
And when the season was over, he promised himself, he'd find her again. Wherever she was in the world.
Because some things were worth chasing just as hard as trophies.
And she was one of them.
***
Adriano knew the media circus would continue, no matter how hard he tried to ignore it. But as always, his focus remained on one thing: football.
His next challenge was the upcoming rematch against CSKA Moskva at home in the Champions League, and his mind was set. He didn't need to respond to the constant gossip, or worry about the ever-growing storm of rumors.
He had goals to score, matches to win, and a legacy to build. That was the only thing that mattered to him.
But his teammates? They were never going to let him off that easy.
It was the morning after the paparazzi photos had gone viral, and the moment Adriano stepped into the training ground, he could feel the teasing glances from the lads.
"Hey, look who's on the front page of The Sun!" Kevin De Bruyne called out, waving a copy of the newspaper in the air.
"Manchester's new royal couple, huh? You sure you're secretly not a prince Bro?"
A few of the others, including Hazard and Silva, joined in, all pretending to be reporters.
Silva held out a microphone and raised an eyebrow. "So, Adriano, how does it feel to be dating Hollywood's new queen? Do we need to start calling you 'King of Hollywood' now?"
Hazard added from the side holding his laugh, " Mr. Riveiro, Is it true you plan to join Hollywood as an actor after retirement?"
Adriano couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "You lot are impossible."
Even Aguero, usually one to keep his distance from media-related jokes, leaned in. "I see, the secret's out. You've been keeping quiet, but now we know the real reason you're always so calm—Hollywood star, huh? Should we expect a cameo from you two in the next Avengers movie?"
The jokes kept coming as they went through their warm-ups. Adriano had to smile. Even though the media buzz had become relentless, this was familiar territory. His teammates were always full of humor, and they could always be counted on to keep things light.
As they began their drills, Hummels, also chimed in. "Just don't let Hollywood distract you, mate. We need you on top form against CSKA next week. They'll be bringing their A-game, and I'm not sure you'll get an easy ride just because you're dating a movie star now."
Adriano rolled his eyes but kept the banter going. "Thanks for the tip, Mat. I'll keep that in mind. But you know, if you guys play well, I won't have to do much at all. Maybe score another goal to take the pressure of me."
That was the nature of their locker room. Lighthearted teasing mixed with the underlying understanding that, when it came to the game, they had each other's backs. Adriano felt the camaraderie. It helped ease the tension of everything outside the pitch.
But the media noise didn't let up. Headlines seemed to pop up at every turn. Some outlets were celebrating his relationship with Kate as a perfect match, mixing admiration for both of them—"Beauty and Brilliance" was a common phrase.
Others, of course, didn't leave him alone. The tabloid press was always ready to dig, trying to find some scandal or contradiction. They dug into his past relationships—Hailey, Blanca—and questioned how long this one would last. Would it be the same short-term drama as the others?
Adriano tried not to pay attention to any of it. But as he sat in his car, driving home from training, he couldn't avoid the rising frustration. The media had turned a simple relationship into a story of its own. It was exhausting.
And yet, the more he pushed it out of his mind, the more it seemed to swirl around him. He talked with Mendes and Raul, and discussed how to handle it.
Mendes told him to either keep quiet and let it go away in a month, or just come out and clarify everything himself. He also admonished Raul for failing to notice the paparazzi. Poor Raul could only stay quiet and promised to do better next time, after Adriano waved it off and said it wasn't Raul's fault.
Later that evening, he sat down for a quiet dinner in his mansion. Alone. A glass of wine beside him. His phone buzzed on the table, and seeing it was Kate, he picked it up immediately.
"How's the other side of the world treating you?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.
Kate's voice came through the speaker, calm and soothing. "Oh, you know. The usual. Busy, busy. I'm just wrapping up a few scenes. It's hectic, but it's all good. I wanted to check in on you."
Adriano let out a small laugh. "Checking in on me? More like making sure I'm not getting distracted by the media circus."
Kate didn't miss a beat. "Well, we were going to reveal it eventually, right? It's not like we were going to keep it a secret forever. We just wanted to hold off until Christmas.
Now that it's out, you might as well let it all go. We can't keep pretending it's not happening. Besides, our family and friends know everything. So, what's the point in hiding it? Media will always gossip anyway."
Adriano was silent for a moment, taking in her words. "You're handling all of this way better than I am, you know?"
Kate chuckled lightly. "I'm just keeping it positive. Someone has to, right? You can be all serious, and I'll bring the fun and sunshine. And why wouldn't I want to let the world know that I'm dating the 'Adriano'? This will keep the other girls trying to seduce you far away"
He couldn't help but smile at that. "You're right. You do bring the sunshine. I guess I just... I don't like the noise. I just want to play in peace and have a nice and quiet private life."
She sighed. "I get it babe. Trust me, I do. But you need to focus on the game, Adriano. Let the media do their thing. You can't let that stuff distract you.
I know you're capable of staying focused. Just remember, we've got each other. You play, I work. We'll make it work."
Adriano felt a sense of calm settle over him. He wasn't alone in this. And that thought helped. "I'm glad you're handling this so well. You make it all seem so easy."
"I'm not always this calm, believe me," Kate said with a laugh. "But for you? I can handle the noise. You focus on scoring those goals, alright?"
"Alright. Thanks, Kate. Talk soon?"
"Always."
As the conversation ended, Adriano felt better. He wasn't going to waste energy worrying about the media anymore. It was out there. And in the end, that was the least important thing. What mattered most was what happened on the pitch.
***
The decision had been made. After days of navigating the whirlwind of media attention, Adriano chose to address the situation head-on. The paparazzi had caught him and Kate at the airport, and since then, it seemed like every newspaper, blog, and social media account had something to say about it.
While the gossip surrounding his personal life wasn't exactly new territory, the timing of the relationship with Kate—and the media frenzy that followed—had put him under a different kind of spotlight. It wasn't just about his performance on the field anymore. It was about who he was off it.
So, after considering his options, Adriano agreed to an exclusive one-on-one interview with The Manchester Evening News. It wasn't about trying to control the narrative or avoid answering tough questions.
It was simply about being honest. He knew that if he didn't speak up, the speculation would only grow more intense. Besides, he had nothing to hide.
The day after the interview was set, the journalist from The Manchester Evening News, Sarah, arrived at the training ground. Adriano met her at one of the studio rooms.
The room was quiet and unassuming—a far cry from the roaring crowds at the Etihad. The reporter was no stranger to high-profile athletes, but there was a sense of respect as she approached the conversation. Adriano, as always, was poised and calm. He had no need to hide behind walls or guard his words.
The interview started as one might expect, with Sarah easing into the subject of his relationship with Kate.
"Adriano, thank you for agreeing to speak with us today. I know things have been a bit chaotic in the press lately regarding your relationship with Hollywood star Kate Upton. How have you been handling it all?"
Adriano shifted in his seat slightly, his eyes relaxed but his expression thoughtful. "To be honest, it's been a little overwhelming at times, but it's part of the job.
We all know what comes with being in the spotlight. I'm here to play football, not to be the subject of a tabloid story. But I get it—it's part of the game."
He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Kate and I have been together for a while now, and we've made it work despite the distance. It's not always easy, especially with her Hollywood commitments and my football career. But we've learned to prioritize the important things in life."
Sarah leaned in slightly, sensing that Adriano was being more open than she expected. "That's really interesting. I think many fans have been wondering how you balance your personal life with your professional one, especially with the schedules you both have. Can you tell us how you manage that?"
Adriano's smile softened as he spoke. "It's definitely a challenge, but Kate is incredibly understanding. She's always been supportive of my career, and I do my best to support hers. It's about compromise.
Sometimes we don't get to see each other for weeks, but we make it work. It's not about counting the hours we spend together. It's about making the most of the time we do have."
Sarah nodded. "And how has she been handling the attention from the press, especially with the pictures that came out recently?"
Adriano's gaze shifted slightly as he considered the question. It was clear that while he was used to the media attention on his own performance, this was another territory. His relationship with Kate had been private, and now, it was thrust into the public eye.
"Kate's used to being in the spotlight. It comes with the territory for her. But she's handling it well. I think we both knew the attention would come eventually. It's just something we have to deal with.
Honestly, though, it doesn't change anything for us. We're just two people trying to make something work despite all the noise around us."
The interviewer seemed to pick up on his genuine tone. It wasn't as if Adriano was hiding anything, but rather, he was simply focused on the things that mattered to him.
"Do you think that the press is unfair in how they cover your personal life? Is it difficult to separate that from your football?"
Adriano's face remained calm, but there was a trace of frustration in his voice when he responded. "It's not always easy. I don't think anyone can be fully prepared for what comes with being in the public eye, especially when it's your personal life. But you learn to tune it out.
I'm here to play football, and that's what I'll focus on. The rest? It's just noise. If people want to speculate, that's their choice. I'm just going to keep doing what I do best."
The next question came with a sharp focus: "Your past relationships, such as with Hailey and Blanca, have also been discussed in the press. How do you respond to critics who might question the longevity of your relationship with Kate, considering the media's focus on your past?"
Adriano's posture stiffened slightly, but he remained composed. "My past is my past. Everyone has one. I don't think it's fair to judge my current relationship based on what happened before. I am young, and I could have handled some things better, but that's life , isn't it?
Kate and I are happy. This is different. We have a strong bond, and we're both committed to making it work. That's all that matters to me."
He exhaled slowly, allowing the weight of his words to settle. "Look, relationships aren't easy, and they aren't always perfect. Specially if you are a celebrity. But I believe in being true to myself, and in this moment, I'm with Kate. And that's where I want to be."
The interview wrapped up soon after that. It hadn't been a long conversation, but it had been an honest one. Adriano had shared what he could, his answers straightforward but filled with a sense of humility.
He didn't seem particularly bothered by the media scrutiny, but there was a clear sense of self-awareness about the situation. He knew that the media would continue to scrutinize his personal life, but it wasn't going to distract him from his focus on football.
The next day, when the interview was published, it caused an immediate stir. The headline read: "Adriano: 'I'm Focused on Football, Not the Gossip'". The article, both candid and thoughtful, outlined Adriano's answers to questions about his relationship with Kate and how they were managing the intense media attention.
For many fans, the interview was a breath of fresh air. Adriano had given them an insight into his personal life without over-sharing. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
Fans on social media expressed their support for both him and Kate, with many commenting on how refreshing it was to see such an honest, mature take on a relationship in the public eye.
On the other hand, some outlets sought to stir the pot. Tabloids ran pieces on his previous relationships, wondering aloud whether this new romance would last or if it was just another fleeting relationship.
Speculation ran rife about the impact of his personal life on his performance. Some questioned whether the added stress of the media coverage would begin to affect him on the pitch.
But for the most part, the response from Manchester City fans was clear: Adriano had handled the situation well. His performance on the field was what mattered most to them, and the media speculation was just background noise.
As long as he kept scoring goals and winning matches, the fans would continue to support him. They knew the player they had—one who was dedicated, focused, and ready to fight for the team.
Kate's own fans in the U.S. also rallied behind the couple, with many expressing their joy over the match between "Beauty and Brilliance," as some put it.
There were even fans of both Hollywood and football celebrities making memes about the couple, painting them as a dream duo both on and off the screen. It was a whirlwind of positivity in many corners of the media, a stark contrast to the initial frenzy when the photos first surfaced.
As the days passed, the initial firestorm of gossip and rumors began to die down, and life returned to a semblance of normality for Adriano. He had faced the storm, addressed the issues head-on, and emerged with his focus intact.
While the media still found ways to speculate, it became clear that Adriano's personal life would no longer overshadow his professional one.
For now, all he had to do was focus on the next match—and keep proving to his fans, teammates, and critics that he was here to do one thing: play football at the highest level.
***
Two days after the interview was published, Adriano sat alone in his kitchen, eating a late lunch. The house was quiet again. Kate was already back in the States, working through another round of press interviews and final shoots. It had been a blur of a week—training, the media frenzy, the interview, and the inevitable fallout.
His phone buzzed on the counter. It was a video call request from his parents.
Adriano wiped his hands and tapped to accept. The screen opened to his mother Rosa's face, close to the camera, eyes already inspecting his expression like she always did.
"meu filho," she said, soft and familiar.
"Hi mom," Adriano replied, a smile forming as he saw both her and his father, Júlio, settling onto the couch back in Lisbon.
"You look tired," Rosa said immediately.
"Thanks," Adriano laughed. "That's exactly what I needed to hear."
Rosa smiled, but didn't let it go. "Are you sleeping well? Eating properly?"
"I am, mãe. I promise."
Júlio leaned into the frame. "You're eating right now, aren't you? Looks like rice. Is that microwave rice?"
Adriano lifted the bowl with a grin. "Brown rice, grilled chicken, and steamed vegetables. Not a packet in sight."
Rosa gave a pleased nod. "At least some things I taught you stuck."
But her expression turned more serious again. "Adriano... we saw the interview. We read everything. Your father showed me the article. I don't like that they bring up your past again, like you're some soap opera."
Adriano sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I know, mãe. But it's okay. That's just how it is. I knew it would happen."
"You didn't look uncomfortable," Júlio said. "You answered well. Clear. Like a man who knows what he's doing."
Rosa nodded. "But are you okay? Really? You didn't seem angry, but you were a bit... I don't know. Heavy."
"I'm okay," Adriano said, more firmly now. "I knew what would happen once the pictures came out. I could either ignore it, or say something. I chose to speak, so people can stop inventing stories and I can focus on football."
Rosa reached for her glasses and adjusted them. "I just don't want you to carry everything alone. You always take everything so seriously. Let people talk. Let them gossip. But don't let it sit on your chest like a stone."
"I won't," he said quietly. "I have City, I have training. I know where my head needs to be."
Júlio leaned back, the corners of his mouth curling with amusement. "Still... dating a movie star, huh? You couldn't just find a nice Portuguese girl from the neighborhood?"
Rosa gave him a sharp look. "Don't start."
"I'm just saying," Júlio went on, chuckling. "Next thing you know, you'll be on magazine covers holding little designer dogs."
Adriano laughed, shaking his head. "That's never happening."
"Good. Because the last time you dated someone famous," Júlio added, "you ended up dumped mid-season and forgot how to take corners."
"Julio!" Rosa swatted her husband's arm, her face half-shocked, half-scolding.
"What?" Júlio shrugged with a playful grin. "It's true."
Adriano groaned. "Thanks for the reminder, dad."
Rosa rolled her eyes. "He's joking, meu filho. But still... be careful. That world—Hollywood, the media, all those people—it's not always real. Just stay grounded. You know who you are."
"I do," Adriano said, more sincerely now. "And Kate does too. She's good to me, mãe. She listens. She doesn't try to change anything."
Rosa smiled, finally looking a little more at ease. "Then I'm happy for you. Just don't forget to look after yourself in all this."
"Always."
There was a quiet pause, the kind that often came after something serious was addressed. Adriano heard the hum of a distant TV from his parents' living room. The kind of background noise that reminded him of home.
"We were thinking," Rosa began gently, "if you wanted a break... even for just a few days. You could come home. Rest. The weather is beautiful."
Adriano hesitated for a second, touched by the offer. But he knew it wasn't possible. "I wish I could. But there's no break coming. We've got CSKA again next week. Then the league matches after that. It's a heavy run of fixtures. I can't afford to step away."
Júlio nodded, understanding. "Then we'll come to you soon. Maybe before Christmas."
"That would be great," Adriano smiled. "Bring grandma Leonor too. She'll complain about the rain, but she always brings good food."
"She brings too much," Rosa muttered.
Adriano looked at them both, feeling lighter. It had been a while since he sat and just talked with them like this—not about tactics, not about form or goals or injury worries, but just life. Honest, normal things. It reminded him of everything outside football. Everything that made him who he was.
Before they ended the call, Rosa reached for the camera again. "Take care of your heart, Adriano. On and off the pitch."
"I will, mãe. I promise."
"And keep scoring," Júlio added. "That shuts the press up faster than any interview."
Adriano laughed again. "Exactly."
They ended the call with their usual goodbyes, warm and familiar. And as the screen went dark, Adriano sat for a few quiet moments at the table.
He wasn't bothered by the gossips anymore. The gossip would pass. The jokes from the lads would keep coming. But none of it shook him.
His family knew who he was. Kate knew who he was. His teammates knew. That was enough.
There were matches to prepare for. There were goals to score. And now more than ever, he felt ready.