When asked what she looked for in a man earlier this week, newly single Irina Shayk replied cryptically: "I love honest men and I love a man who is loyal to women".It was revealed last month that the 29-year-old Russian supermodel had split from her boyfriend of five-years, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, over the Christmas season. HELLO! online can now reveal that it was Irina who took the painful decision to suddenly end the relationship on New Year's Eve at the couple’s home in Madrid after confronting the 30-year-old Real Madrid striker.
Irina Shayk pictured this week attending the Sports Illustrated Swimwear 2015 party
"She was in shock and completely devastated," a close friend told HELLO! online. “It wasn't a decision she took lightly. "The friend added: "She then left immediately and spent New Year's Eve crying alone in the airport before flying to the Maldives, where she spent her birthday alone. "It was an abrupt ending to one of the celebrity world's most glamorous – and seemingly solid – partnerships. Irina had also embraced her role as 'stepmother' to the Portuguese footballer’s son Cristiano Jnr, who was born shortly after the couple first got together in 2010.
Irina took the difficult decision to end the relationship, a friend of the model has said
"Irina always chose to stand by her man," the friend told HELLO! online. This time, however, it appears she had a drastic change of heart. "There was no way around it as the truth was staring at her in the face," her friend added. "After much thought and consideration, she felt she couldn't ignore the signs." Following her decision to split, Irina immediately unfollowed Ronaldo on Twitter and deleted all personal images of the couple on her Instagram account. Instead, she posted pictures of herself in the Maldives "to show the world she had moved on alone".
The model spent her birthday in the Maldives
She was forced to put out a statement earlier this month that she had not snubbed Ronaldo's mother's 60th birthday party. Her spokesperson said at the time: "She has been very close to his family throughout their relationship. Any negative rumours about Irina’s and Ronaldo’s family are completely false and have not been a factor in the cause of the split. "The close friend told HELLO! online: "Irina worked to gain the respect of his family, including going on holiday with them. She was mindful to rarely comment on her private life with him and never wanted to use his fame to her advantage."
The stunning model pictures in New York this week
Speculation that the couple's relationship was over first surfaced after Irina missed the footballer's third Ballon d'Or win in Zurich on 12 January.The friend also dismissed claims that Irina had enjoyed a romance with Hollywood star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson during filming of the movie Hercules. "She has never had a romantic relationship with Dwayne," the friend said.Irina, who has remained tight lipped about her split from Ronaldo, revealed her perfect Valentine's Day date to E! Online at a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models party in New York this week:"A lot of food, expensive bottle of champagne, because I'm Russian. Chocolate and a cool movie – yesterday I saw Pretty Woman and that felt like Valentine's for me. It was really nice. "She admitted she didn't have any special plans for the day but joked: "Not yet but you know, maybe it's going to come up."