FOOTIE hero Ryan Giggs showered a PR girl with gifts including flowers and
designer handbags as she helped with his hotel venture, pals have claimed.
The Manchester United legend struck up a flirty friendship with 32-year-old
Kate Greville as his marriage fell apart.
The Sun on Sunday told
yesterday how wife Stacey finally ditched him three months ago amid fears he
could return to his cheating ways.
She is now in line for a bumper divorce payout after calling an end to their
eight-year marriage. Giggs, 42 and worth £40million, grew close to Kate as
she helped promote his Hotel Football venture last year.
Friends said Kate, who had ended her 18-month marriage to United-mad husband
Damian Burke, confided that Giggs sent a series of gifts to her PR agency
office.
One said: “Ryan was excited about launching Hotel Football and wanted someone
to handle the PR.
“The hotel was a big deal to him so he spent a lot of time working with Kate
to get things right.
“He was very impressed with her and their friendship was very flirty. She
started receiving gifts at the office, including designer handbags. She told
friends in the office that they were from Ryan.”
Giggs and Kate are said to have spent a lot of time together promoting his
£24million hotel venture, which he part-owns alongside former team-mate Gary
Neville.
They were close for six months attending functions and meetings together. But
she left the country to set up a new PR agency in Abu Dhabi last year after
telling friends she wanted a fresh start.
It is thought her friendship with Giggs has since cooled.
Yesterday Kate, who appeared on The Sun’s front page in 2010 in a giant
stilton hat at Ascot Ladies Day for a PR stunt, was understood to be
unavailable for comment in Abu Dhabi.
Stacey, 37, ended her marriage to Giggs earlier this year amid rumours he
had been flirting with waitresses at his restaurant.
She and the star, who has built an impressive hotel and restaurant portfolio
since hanging up his boots two years ago, have both told friends the
marriage is over and it is thought she will seek a divorce.
Stacey had already endured his affairs with model Imogen Thomas and his
brother’s wife Natasha.
Giggs is still living under the same roof as Stacey and their two young
children in their £4million six-bed mansion in Worsley, Gtr Manchester. But
the pair are believed to be leading separate lives.
Sources said they had tried to repair their relationship for the sake of the
youngsters. But after months of soul-searching they are now said to have
called it a day.
Stacey has told friends there is no way back for the marriage and is looking
to file for divorce. A pal said: “Stacey raised their children while Ryan
focused on his career.
“While he was travelling the world playing football, she was at home taking
care of the kids and looking after their family home.
“But now she’s grown tired of the rumours and worrying about his behaviour.
It’s only fair she gets what’s hers from the marriage.
“She deserves every penny for the humiliation Ryan put her through after
cheating on her.
“She was absolutely humiliated but stayed with him for the sake of their
children. But she’s had enough and wants a fresh start.
“It’s going to be extremely painful for Ryan as he’s carved out a very
successful hospitality business since he retired from playing.”
READ MORE:
Giggs last appeared on the Sunday Times rich list in 2014 when he was ranked
as Britain’s ninth richest sportsman on £36million. He has roles in 20
businesses including the Class of 92 Ltd, Salford City Football Club and his
Cafe Football venture, which has two sites in Manchester and Westfield
Stratford City, East London.
As well as Hotel Football, he also has stakes in property firms with millions
in assets and the Old Trafford Supporters Club
Cracks first appeared in his marriage last November when Stacey was absent
at United’s annual charity gala dinner for Unicef.
The couple’s relationship began in 2002. Their daughter Liberty Beau was born
the next year.
They had son Zachary in 2006 and the next year Giggs and Stacey wed. But
behind the scenes he was having an affair with younger brother Rhodri’s wife
Natasha — and had been doing so since 2003.
Natasha revealed their relationship in June 2011, shattering Giggs’ previously
squeaky-clean image.
She revealed the former Wales international winger got her pregnant and gave
her £500 in cash for an abortion.
At the time of her revelation he was being named online as the mystery
footballer who had an affair with Big Brother’s Imogen.
He spent £150,000 on an injunction to gag Imogen and The Sun, before giving up
his anonymity in the High Court in February 2012 following a lengthy legal
battle.
Giggs is the most decorated player in football history. He has won 13 Premier
League medals, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two Champions Leagues, a
World Club Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Uefa Super Cup and nine FA Community
Shields.
And he was the first player to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award
consecutively — in 1992 and 1993.
Giggs has refused to comment about the potential divorce.
Yesterday his brother Rhodri tweeted “smoke and fire comes to mind” when asked
about the story by a Manchester United fan.
The tweet has since been deleted.
GOT a story? Ring The Sun on 020 7782 4104 or email [email protected]