Rodriguez: 'Madonna is just a pal'

Baseball star Alex Rodriguez has spoken out about his reported relationship with Madonna - insisting the pair are just "friends".

The sports hero and the pop superstar have been linked since his ex-wife Cynthia's lawyer alleged the baseball player had an "affair of the heart" with the 'Material Girl' singer.

Reports of a romance were further fuelled when Madonna announced her split from Guy Ritchie after seven-and-a-half years of marriage in October. Their quickie divorce will be finalised in the New Year.

Rodriguez has also been spotted supporting the singer at a number of concerts on her Sticky & Sweet tour.

But he denies claims the duo have fallen straight into a romance - and finds it hilarious that the world's press has blown their relationship out of context.

He tells People.com, "We're friends - that's it.

"I've been to two (of her) concerts, yet I've read that I went to 20. I've also read that we were buying an apartment together. That is absolutely ridiculous and not true.

"You have to have a sense of humour when it comes to this stuff."