Alex Rodriguez was an 'emotionally abused' husband, say pals

New York, July 21 : Friends of Yankee star Alex Rodriguez have claimed that he was an 'emotionally abused' husband, and that his wife Cynthia gave him permission to see other women.

Angry over allegations Rodriguez is facing, several friends think it's time to reveal his side of the story.

"Alex has always been into psychotherapy, making himself mentally stronger," the New York Daily News quoted a pal, as saying.

"He's had several therapists. Cynthia has a master's degree in psychology. Once she found out how vulnerable he was, she got into his head. Several of us begged him not to marry this woman, but he did it anyway," the pal added.

According to several of his friends, the cultural divide between her Orthodox Greek upbringing and his Dominican heritage quickly became apparent.

"She said she wanted him to become a mainstream sports star. She didn't want him typecast as a Latin player. She discouraged him from taking part in Hispanic community events," a friend said.

Another friend said: "She wouldn't even let him eat Spanish food. She didn't like him hanging out with old buddies from Washington Heights."

"When you keep a man caged, he's going to go crazy when you let him out," added a friend.

Pals have also revealed that sometime in the past year, Rodriguez asked Cynthia for a divorce.

"He said, 'I hate this. I want out,' but she kept insisting they could work it out. After about six months of him asking for a divorce, she said it was okay for him to see other people, but she wouldn't agree to a separation," a friend said.

As far as Cynthia's claims are concerned that her husband had an 'affair of the heart' with Madonna ' and that the singer 'brainwashed him', one pal said: "Cynthia's the reason Alex met Madonna. She kept hounding him to call [Madonna's manager] Guy Oseary and get them backstage at one of her concerts. Cynthia brainwashed him, not Madonna."

A spokesman for Rodriguez refused to comment on the claims and lawyers for Cynthia did not return several calls and e-mails.

ANI