Soccer player Luciano Rodriguez experienced an awkward moment during his career move announcement when his girlfriend, Antonela Ciavaglia, walked away as he leaned in for a kiss during a photo opportunity. The incident occurred as Rodriguez, 23, was celebrating his transfer to Brazilian club Cruzeiro.
Ciavaglia, also 23, has been dubbed the "Uruguayan Kim Kardashian." After Rodriguez attempted to kiss her, she turned and walked away, leaving the soccer star to react with a sheepish head scratch. The clip of the moment quickly went viral on social media.
Following the widespread attention, Ciavaglia addressed the incident, stating that there was no rift between them. "When I entered, I greeted him and when I left, I was very nervous," she explained, according to The Sun. "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, a striker, has joined Cruzeiro on loan. He will play alongside former Premier League players Luis Sinisterra and Matheus Pereira. The team currently ranks fifth in the Brazilian Série A league. Rodriguez previously missed out on a spot in Uruguay's FIFA World Cup squad, and his home country did not advance past the group stage in that tournament. He could potentially debut for Cruzeiro against Flamengo on Wednesday in the Copa Libertadores tournament.