SOCCER HUNK PROUD OF GAY RUMOURS

Swedish soccer hunk and underwear model Freddie Ljungberg has told The New York Times that he is proud of rumours suggesting that he is gay.

In an interview with the newspaper, Ljungberg, who now plays in the US for the Seattle Sounders, addressed the rumours about his sexuality.

“There’s been a gay rumour for a long time. I don’t mind at all. I am proud of that,” the 33 year old sportsman said.

“I love fashion, and I think so many gay people have amazing style. So that is a compliment to me. I really don’t know why people are so interested. I just made a decision that I won’t talk about it,” he added.

Ljungberg, who played for London’s Arsenal football club and was captain of the Swedish national team, famously modelled for Calvin Klein underwear from 2003 to 2007.

He retired from international soccer in 2008, but told The New York Times that, “It will be a massive thing for me not to be there when the World Cup begins this month in South Africa”.

Ljungberg is single and lives alone on a lake near Seattle. In 2006, after being named “the Hottest Football Stud” by British gay magazine Attitude, he commented: “I am not gay. If I was I would just say I was and it wouldn’t bother me.”