HEARTBROKEN Arabella Chi has branded Manchester City ex Ruben Dias “a mistake” after he suddenly dumped her following a New Year’s break.
The bombshell beauty told how their devastating split capped a year of heartache following a string of failed flings.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, wounded Arabella, 32, said: “Last year was probably my unluckiest when it came to finding the one. I’ve been so unlucky in love.
“I’ve dated people I thought at the time were the one, which was a mistake I’ve since learnt from.”
Friends say she was “totally blindsided” by the split from Man City defender Ruben, 26.
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Arabella added: “What I’ve learnt from dating last year is that you think you know someone but you don’t really know them at all.
“I dated people that perhaps, looking back, weren’t best suited to me.”
Before her passionate four months with the Portuguese player, Arabella was linked to millionaire nightclub owner Richie Akiva, 47, and was invited to spend time aboard Leonardo DiCaprio’s party yacht.
‘Marriage and babies’
Now finding herself suddenly single, the model will launch a fresh hunt for a man after returning to Love Island All Stars.
She said: “I might have recently come out of a relationship but I’m ready to meet the man of my dreams.
“I don’t think there has ever been a better time after the dating mistakes I made last year.”
Arabella and Ruben got together in September, with her flying between her home in Ibiza and Manchester to be with the pitch ace.
They had met through mutual friends and quietly dated for weeks before eagle-eyed fans spotted them sharing similar posts of the Eiffel Tower in November.
They were last seen together on New Year’s Day, when they were snapped arriving at Manchester Airport for a flight to Portugal.
A source close to Arabella said of their November getaway: “They went to Paris for their first romantic mini-break, where he wined and dined her at all the best restaurants. He also showered her with gifts.
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“At that point Ruben and Arabella were trying to keep their relationship under wraps, but they had the best time together and that’s when the cat was out of the bag.
“They continued to keep things private, though, and were seeing each other all the time, with Arabella flying in from Ibiza to visit him in Manchester.
“She was really excited about the New Year holiday but that’s when it all went wrong.
“She felt like it was time they started to take things a bit more seriously, but he didn’t want to.
“She was in love with him. She’s been blindsided by the split.”
Ruben, who joined City from Benfica for £65million in 2020, was previously linked to dancer Ginevra Festa.
A relationship with singer April Ivy, 24, ended in 2021.
Now Arabella will make the ITV All Stars villa her Heartbreak Hotel when she arrives tomorrow night.
Viewers will see the lads invited to “Arabella’s After Party” in the Hideaway.
Show legends including Chris Taylor, who starred in last summer’s Barbie movie alongside Margot Robbie, are excited to see her.
But there is no chance she will be starstruck by any of the fellas, having moved in A-list circles herself.
Hinting of her link with Leo, 49, for the first time, Arabella said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to hang out in Hollywood circles but I have still not found love. I’ve never felt more ready to settle down.
“All I’ve ever wanted is true love and that fairytale dream. I’m 32, I want to get married and have babies.
“I haven’t got lots of time left and I know more about myself now than ever. This is my last shot to find my happily ever after.”
Arabella will need her wits about her as she joins the show a week in, with a number of messy situations already in play.
And she revealed she has a secret ex among the cast — Toby Aromolaran.
She said: “Toby and I have a bit of history so I’m keen to explore. We hooked up in the summer. There is a little bit of unfinished business.
“Obviously it’s going to be difficult to live with an ex, but I don’t feel there is any bad blood between us.
‘Keeping options open’
“I look at all of the successful marriages and relationships that have come out of Love Island and it’s clear to see they are able to match people successfully.
“Look at Molly-Mae (Hague) and Tommy Fury. They are so happily in love. I’m hoping I will be the one to find that in this series and build my own little Love Island family.”
During her 2019 stint Arabella made a beeline for model Danny Williams, but romance stalled when she was dumped from the villa.
This time she plans to keep her options open.
She said: “Last time I channelled all my energy into Danny way too early on. I now feel like I’m going back to the villa knowing more than ever exactly what I want.
“I want to make sure I give everyone a chance and get to know them.
“Obviously you have to have an instant attraction to somebody but it really is the root of the person that matters the most.”
After leaving the show five years ago, The Sun revealed Arabella was growing close to 2018 Islander Wes Nelson, then 22. But nine months on he moved out of their shared home.
Arabella confessed she has unexplored feelings for All Stars contestant Anton Danyluk — who she took on a date during her first villa stint.
She said: “I feel like I cut off Anton too early last time because I went straight in for Danny.
“Anton and I have so many similar interests in terms of the gym which, for me, is up there as one of the top qualities a guy needs to have in terms of leading a healthy lifestyle.
“My initial attraction is the shared interests. Is it a second chance for ‘Double A’? He is really good looking, dark hair, green eyes. I am excited to get to know him.
“In terms of the other boys, Luis (Morrison) is very easy on the eye and I’m also interested in getting to know Chris (Taylor).
“My parents have been together for 40 years and they’ve taught me the importance of humour in a relationship. Chris is really funny so I’m going to see if there’s a connection.”
- Love Island All Stars continues tomorrow night at 9pm on ITV2.
ALL STAR SPOT
DANICA Taylor has dropped another hint that she could be the next bombshell to enter the All Stars villa.
Sharing a snap of herself sitting in a car in a vest and shorts, the 22-year-old wrote: “Destination summer pls.”
She previously teased fans with a pic of luggage.
On the show in 2022 Danica coupled up with six men to find love.