'We are both aware of it' - Ruben Dias opens up on his romance with Maya Jama

Manchester City star Rúben Dias has finally peeled back the curtain on his romance with Maya Jama.

The 28-year-old defender has made it clear that, football fame or not, he and the Love Island host, 30, are determined to keep things as “normal” as possible.

The Portuguese centre-back, who has been a mainstay in Pep Guardiola’s defence, spoke candidly in an interview with The Telegraph, insisting he refuses to let superstardom control his day-to-day life.

In a refreshingly down-to-earth confession, Dias admitted he doesn’t shy away from everyday errands. 

“I don’t stop myself from doing anything. I’ll go to a Co-op, whatever. I’ll go to a mall if I want… as normal as I can get, I’ll go everywhere,” he said.

Dias even recalled being spotted mid-burger bite and still happily agreeing to a fan photo: “Some people will see me and respectfully come and ask for a picture and I’ll be more than happy to do it.”

While most encounters are “respectful,” he conceded there are times he’ll skip certain hotspots, saying, “Maybe if I go to a bowling place… maybe I will avoid them just because it might be a bit more intense.”

Meanwhile, Dias also acknowledged that Jama is far more selective about public outings.

 “Maybe she would like to avoid certain kinds of situations just to be more comfortable, also being a woman,” he explained.

While he feels at ease brushing off an intrusive fan, Jama faces a tougher reality. 

“It’s obviously more difficult to tell someone to stop if they’re being rude. And I’ve kind of got an easier way to do it myself,” Dias added.

Still, he insisted their shared goal is simple: “Being together, I just push it to be normal and we try to be as normal as we can.”

The couple’s relationship has been under scrutiny since they were first linked at the MTV EMAs in Manchester last year, with reports suggesting the pair later rang in the New Year together in Ibiza. 

Their romance has steadily grown more public, with family signs of approval – even Dias’s mother now follows Jama on Instagram.

But for Dias, outside noise is just that. 

Asked about the public spotlight, he said: “We are just both aware of it and there’s no way around it.

"But at the end of the day, you don’t make it about it. You make it about everything else.”

Dias is expected to return to action for City when they take on Brighton this weekend at the Amex Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s men were stunned 2-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, and will be looking to get back to winning ways against the Seagulls.