Valentino Rossi hung up his boots on his MotoGP career at the end of the 2021 season. The Italian racer is one of the most celebrated riders in the sport’s history and has won 9 world championships. Rossi retired from the sport to focus on starting a family with his fiancee, Francesca Sofia Novello.

In a recent interview, the couple shed light on their relationship and how they are looking forward to welcoming a child into their lives soon. Rossi also revealed how the pair first met each other.

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Yes, she gave me an ultimatum: Valentino Rossi

As reported by Speedweek, the Italian mentioned he met Francesca in 2017 after he ended his previous long-term relationship. Although they did not get together straight away, Rossi stated she had given him an ultimatum.

“I worked for two years as an umbrella girl for a team at the MotoGP circuits. It was around that time that he started texting me, ‘I’ve seen you, you’re beautiful.’ It took a year and a half because he came out of a long relationship. So he needed time. It took a year and a half before I said, ‘Enough, it’s now or never.'” said Francesca.

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“Yes, she gave me an ultimatum. I met her a bit early. I wasn’t ready yet. It took me a year on my own to recharge my batteries,” said Rossi.

Valentino revealed how his girlfriend broke the news of her pregnancy. “I came home from the race and told her: ‘Come to Cattolica, we’ll meet at the pizzeria.’ But she replied: ‘No, no. You come and pick me up.’ 

And I was like, ‘Damn, why do I have to pick you up…’ But she insisted – and then when I got home she was sitting there in disarray: ‘I’m pregnant.’ It was a shock, but one of the good kind,” said the Italian legend.

It is nice to see that Rossi is relaxed in his life now after so many years of competing at the highest level.

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