Ivan Soldo and Chelsea Becirevic have spent months in the headlines, often for the wrong reasons, but now football’s most talked-about couple are setting the record straight about their relationship.
The Port Power star and his stunning girlfriend first attracted national attention in May this year, when she left the country to live a new life in Dubai after saying living in Adelaide was a “struggle” and “just not It was for me permanently.
His comments sparked a frenzy in Adelaide, where locals took issue with an outburst in Melbourne suggesting their city was “too boring”. Meanwhile, Soldo, heartbroken, stayed to play soccer.
Becirevic worked as a flight attendant in the Middle Eastern city for several months before returning home in September, explaining that she “hated” long distances and missed her ruckman boyfriend.
Since meeting Soldo, Becirevic has insisted his comments about Adelaide were wildly misinterpreted, but rumors about his distaste for the City of Churches resurfaced when Soldo was linked with a trade with a Melbourne-based team. Some football fans suspected Becirevic was lobbying behind the scenes for the couple to return to the Victorian capital..
Soldo made headlines again when he clashed with soccer great Kane Cornes over the rumored trade. The story gained more traction as the couple appeared. Living it up on the Gold Coast in some stunning paparazzi photos.
Now, Soldo and Becirevic want to reveal the truth behind the headlines. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Derby Day on Saturday, they opened up about where their relationship is headed and why they won’t be leaving Adelaide anytime soon..
I guess we’ll spend another year in Adelaide and take it as it comes. But we love each other and we are excited about our future,” Soldo revealed.
Ivan Soldo and Chelsea Becirevic cut great figures on Derby Day, where they gave Daily Mail Australia an exclusive look at the future of their relationship.
Becirevic, known as Australia’s most popular WAG, has been making headlines for months, although she’s not always happy with the reasons why
When asked if marriage and children are on the cards, Becirevic enthusiastically responded, “I wish!” before Soldo added: “Commitment comes first.” I have to ask the question first, you have to do that first.
“We’ll do a promise ring, then the engagement, everything.”
Soldo also revealed that the strength of their romance has been a mainstay for the couple as they appeared in the news in an often controversial way.
“This is really running water,” she said of the scrutiny their relationship has endured.
“You have to have very thick skin in this world, but we have each other and that’s the only thing that matters.”
While his man will return to play for Port in 2025, Becirevic spoke about what lies ahead for his career and how he feels about spending more time in Adelaide.
“At the moment I’m just around my family, trying to settle into Adelaide and getting the house in order right now and making plans for the future,” he said.
The soccer couple hopes to get engaged in the future; Chelsea reveals that she hopes to have a child together.
Soldo has been urging her partner to get into modeling, and she said there are “some things in the works” to make that happen.
Before moving to Adelaide, Becirevic said he had heard “mixed reviews”. His Instagram posts announcing that he was going to Dubai and Soldo’s heartbroken reaction made headlines.
“People have taken what I said wrong. I never looked down on Adelaide, ever. I love Adelaide; I have lived there for the last year.
‘What I like most are the beaches; They have beautiful beaches.’
Becirevic’s appearance has led to her being dubbed “Australia’s sexiest WAG”, a title she described as “sweet” and “very nice”, while emphasizing that these are other people’s words, not hers.
Modeling seems to be a natural career path for the 24-year-old, and while she’s not currently in that line of work, it looks like that’s about to change.
‘I tell him all the time that he should (model),’ Soldo said.
“We have some things in the works,” Becirevic added.
‘I can’t really say much right now. We’re working on some things.’
While a move to a Melbourne team hit a roadblock recently when St Kilda reportedly withdrew their interest, a move to the football capital is definitely appealing for the pair.
“I have a lot of family in Melbourne,” Soldo explained.
‘My mother is one of 11 (children), so I have over 30 cousins there.
The couple are excited about living in Adelaide for the next year while Ivan stays in Port Power, despite the furor over Chelsea’s City of Churches comments, which she insists were wildly misinterpreted.
Soldo has credited the strength of his relationship with the 24-year-old Chelsea with helping them overcome intense scrutiny: “We have each other and that’s all that matters.”
‘If there is somewhere I want to finish my career… I would definitely consider all my options.
“Maybe also go down the coaching route or look for some opportunities in the media.”
Last month, Becirevic responded to online trolls who had harassed her on social media.
“Honestly, I’m sick of this ridiculous narrative that keeps circulating,” she said on Instagram.
“I have remained silent for too long, but it is time to set the record straight. Somehow I have become the center of attention for a job that has nothing to do with me.
“Not that it’s anyone’s business, but I came back from Dubai to support my boyfriend and somehow I find myself dragged into the media.
“It’s disappointing to see the same old story, where the girl is blamed for everything.” Let’s be clear: I have never spoken ill of Adelaide either.
Meanwhile, Soldo hit back at Cornes after the former Port star criticized him for alleged character issues when he did not attend the team’s best and fairest awards night last month.
‘Let’s get a few things straight, the ONLY reason I didn’t attend PAFC better and fairer was because it was the same night as my best friend’s wedding, where I was best man. Which the club fully supported me to attend. “If that reflects poorly on my character, then Kane, our values clearly do not align,” he wrote on Instagram.
‘As far as the trade (to a Melbourne club) goes, this happens every year and is just apart (sic) of work. I still have a contract with the port and I have no intention of leaving.
“Also, the bullying and hate towards my partner needs to stop too, this backwards narrative is getting old.”
Soldo’s statement came as Power boss Chris Davies told AFL Trade Radio the player had permission to be at the wedding and would likely stay in Port Adelaide.
“I think Ivan hasn’t settled into Adelaide as he would have liked and perhaps as we would have liked, and we have a part to play in that,” Davies said.