Lucy Bronze sparks romance rumours with former team-mate Ona Batlle as Lionesses star enjoys birthday getaway ahead of the Euros
Lionesses star Lucy Bronze has fuelled romance rumours with Spain's Ona Batlle.
Bronze, 33, who plies her trade for Chelsea, is currently preparing for this summer's European Championships where she may come up against Batlle.
The pair were team-mates in the 2023-24 season when they were at Barcelona having previously been rivals after Spain beat England in the World Cup final in 2023. Between 2020 and 2022 Bronze and Batlle also played in Manchester for City and United respectively.
Over recent times, there has been increasing speculation they are a couple, with fans publicly acknowledging and celebrating any potential relationship.
However, neither Batlle nor Bronze have ever publicly confirmed the rumours.
Yet, fans went into overdrive last week when both stars shared snaps on social media from a trip away that they had seemingly taken together.
Bronze and Batlle enjoyed a hugely successful season at Barcelona together back in 2023-24
The location is unclear, but within the selection of pictures, Bronze and Batlle posed together and looked to be enjoying their trip.
In one photo, it appeared they were having an ice cream in the sun, while another saw them relaxing on a lilo together in the sea.
In a further snap on Bronze's post, they took a boat trip and they also spent some time in a private pool. Bronze and Batlle similarly shared a photo together in a mirror.
Fans were quick to celebrate the pair in the comments, while Batlle even commented on Bronze's post with a love eyes emoji.
Meanwhile, during their sole season together at Barcelona, the Catalan giants enjoyed a historic campaign.
As team-mates, Batlle and Bronze won the Champions League, Liga F, the Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup before the right back moved to Chelsea last summer.
Elsewhere, back in 2023 after Spain beat England in the World Cup final, Batlle famously consoled a tearful Bronze after full-time.
Following their holiday, Bronze has since linked up with England ahead of this summer's tournament in Switzerland.
Batlle had famously consoled Bronze after Spain beat England in the 2023 World Cup final
The right back, who will play at her seventh major tournament, is a Lionesses legend and is one of 13 players in Sarina Wiegman's 23-strong group that won the Euros in 2022.
However, Wiegman has been hit by several blows ahead of England's opening clash against France on July 5.
Mary Earps and Fran Kirby have both retired from international football, while Millie Bright also made herself unavailable for selection, saying she is unable to give '100 per cent mentally or physically'.
Nevertheless, Wiegman defended England's build-up to the tournament and revealed why she thinks the Lionesses aren't in crisis.
'That is not the case,' she insisted earlier this month. 'We know what is happening in the team. I think – and hope – there is competition going on in the team.
'I feel very comfortable. I'm very happy with the team and I'm very excited and I'm looking forward to it. For me, it doesn't feel like a crisis at all.'
The Lionesses face Jamaica in a warm-up game this Sunday, before they take on France, the Netherlands and Wales in their group.
Meanwhile, Spain are in Group B alongside Belgium, Italy and Portugal.
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