Footballer Luciano Rodriguez experienced an awkward moment during his transfer unveiling for Brazilian club Cruzeiro when his girlfriend, Anto Ciavaglia, did not return his attempt at a kiss.
Rodriguez, a 23-year-old striker for Uruguay, was on stage celebrating his loan move to Cruzeiro when he leaned in for a kiss. Ciavaglia, who has been described as the 'Uruguayan Kim Kardashian,' turned away, leaving Rodriguez momentarily without a response. Footage of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Ciavaglia addressed the situation, stating she was overcome with nerves during the event. "When I entered, I greeted him and when I left, I was very nervous," she said. "The moment overwhelmed me and I preferred to give him space. There was no disrespect or anything like what they are trying to make it seem like."
Rodriguez, capped five times for Uruguay, has had a notable career. He was part of the Uruguay squad that won the Under-20 World Cup and also won the Uruguayan Premier Division with Liverpool Montevideo in 2023. After a spell with Bahia in Brazil and then Neom in the Saudi Pro League, where he scored six goals in 30 games, he has now joined Cruzeiro on loan, with the club reportedly having a £14.95 million buy option. At Cruzeiro, he will play alongside former Leeds forward Luis Sinisterra and ex-West Brom player Matheus Pereira.
Ciavaglia, a model with over 170,000 Instagram followers, was reportedly compared to Kim Kardashian by Uruguayan newspaper El Pais in 2021, a comparison she has called "super cute" because she admires Kardashian.
During the unveiling, Rodriguez's mother was also seen in attendance, appearing emotional as she sat next to Ciavaglia.