Footballer Ruben Dias has denied that he cheated on his now ex-girlfriend Maya Jama.
The Manchester City defender confirmed their break-up and addressed reports of his infidelity in an Instagram post shared on Friday (29 May), writing: “That’s where I draw the line.”
“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,” Dias said.
“Maya and I have always had a relationship built on mutual respect. No line was ever crossed in that regard.”
Public speculation surrounding their relationship has grown in recent weeks after both Dias and Jama removed photos of one another from their respective social media accounts.
The 29-year-old said that while he usually remained silent about his personal life, he felt compelled to address the rumours because “I believe it’s wrong to lie to people and to portray an opposite image of someone just for clickbait”.
“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,” he wrote. “I believe Maya deserves all the respect in the world.”
While the statement serves as confirmation that the couple have indeed split, Dias said their reasons remain “private and belong to us”. He added: “We’ve both dealt with it in a very mature way.”
open image in galleryThe Portuguese footballer urged his followers: “Respect me, respect Maya, and understand that not always one has to betray the other in order for a relationship to end.”
Jama, 31, is yet to comment publicly on their split. The Independent has contacted a representative of hers for comment.
The former couple confirmed their relationship in April 2025, after having met in November 2024 at the MTV European Music Awards in Manchester.
open image in galleryThey most recently lived together in the city, where Dias has been playing since he signed for Manchester City in 2020. He was previously at SL Benfica.
Dias will play for the Portuguese squad in the World Cup next month.
Meanwhile, Jama has been the host of Love Island UK since 2022 and will next appear as a contestant in the second series of The Celebrity Traitors UK, which will air later this year.