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Celebrity

30th Nov 2021

Brazilian footballer announces name of baby he’s having with ex-wife’s niece

Laura Grainger

Families, eh?

Brazilian footballer Hulk has announced the name of the baby he’s expecting with his wife Camila Angelo – who also happens to be his ex-wife’s niece.

The Atletico Mineiro striker confirmed he and Camila will name their unborn daughter Zaya in an Instagram post.

Alongside a photo of the two of them in which he can be seen cradling her bump, Hulk wrote: “And Zaya who doesn’t stop growing… Thank you for everything GOD! I love you so much my love.”

The couple shocked the world by going public with their relationship following his split from ex-wife Iran Angelo in July 2019.

Iran is the mother of Hulk’s three children – two sons aged 13 and 11 and a 6-year-old daughter – and is the aunt of his new wife.

She has previously spoken of the pain the pair’s relationship caused her, accusing them of making her “die a little inside” in October shortly after they announced the pregnancy.

In a veiled swipe at the couple, she wrote on Instagram: “Lies and disloyalties are like knives.

“They cut our flesh, make us bleed, dry up, die a little inside.

“But for those that have God in their lives, this dying means rebirth. I am reborn with each disappointment and each lie that is unmasked because Jesus made me strong.”

The message captioned a photo of a clock with the quote: “Only time has the skill to unmask appearances, reveal lies and show someone’s true character.”

According to reports, Iran previously claimed she treated Camila like a daughter and that she felt like her niece was “burying her alive”.

She allegedly said: “I gave everything to this girl since she came into the world. I sacrificed my dreams so many times to make her dreams come true.

“And here I’m not just talking about material goods, because these are easy to give when you have money, but love, affection, attention, respect… everything.

“She knew my weaknesses, insecurities, pain, fears and had my unconditional love. She managed my life, and for me everything that she said was good, it was correct, it was ethical.

“She was perfect in everything and I gave her the direction of my life. If I was wrong, my God, it was because I loved and trusted too much.”

Hulk responded to his ex-wife’s criticism during an Instagram Live session in September 2020.

“I never had a relationship with Camila when I was married,” he said, per reports. “I am a man. I was not happy in my marriage.

“I had countless reasons. I spent my entire marriage betraying Iran. She lived a single life. She just wanted to have the status of wife of the Hulk.”

The 35-year-old footballer hinted he had more in common with Camila, 33, than 53-year-old Iran: “Camila came to China. I don’t think I’m an ugly person and I’m young. Camila is young and extremely beautiful.

“We ended up getting involved. We were single. We came back from China and told the family when you came back and you went to media.

“I have a clear conscience and peace. If you want to continue cursing me and treating me like a monster, the choice is yours. But criticise on top of the truth.”