Ronaldo throws lavish Valentine's party

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By Clotaire Achi

CHANTILLY, France, Feb 14 - Brazil striker Ronaldo gave his fiance a romantic Valentine's Day present on Monday, throwing a lavish engagement party at a sumptuous and secluded castle outside Paris.

Ronaldo was widely reported to have invited Real Madrid team mates Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Raul to the party at Chantilly chateau just north of Paris but it was not immediately clear whether they had attended.

Limousines drove guests into the grounds of the chateau amid tight security. A Reuters reporter saw Real Madrid midfielder Luis Figo and Italian designer Valentino arrive.

Although the party was billed as a wedding, Ronaldo cannot marry 23-year-old Brazilian model Daniella Cicarelli until he has been divorced for a full year from his first wife, Milene Domingues.

"But Ronaldo and Daniella believe that St. Valentine's is a special day and regard this party as their marriage," David Espinar, Ronaldo's agent, said by telephone from Madrid.

The Chantilly municipality and Brazilian consulate in Paris say they have received no papers from the couple and no requests to register a wedding on Monday. The pair are expected to wed later this year.

Espinar said the 28-year-old Ronaldo's divorce was just about tied up but Spanish law prevented him from marrying again for a year.

Brazilian media put the estimated cost of the party at around 700,000 euros (

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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