Cristiano Ronaldo’s bodybuilder ex-minder has died at 50.

Hulking Nigel Davis – known to pals as "Big Nige" – passed away at Royal Stoke University Hospital after a short illness.

The former Mr Universe contestant who lived in Wolverhampton was hired as Ronaldo’s bodyguard in his Manchester United days.

Paying tribute to the dad-of-one, wife Collette said: “We were inseparable. He was my soul mate and one in a million.

“You’d only have to walk into a room and the aura he had was that everybody saw him as a gentle giant. He was polite, loving, he would do anything for anybody.

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“He was my angel. His life has been cut way too short. He was an amazing husband and dad, it’s going to be hard to fill his shoes.

“I feel blessed to have the four years that I did. I just wish I had asked him out sooner so I could’ve loved him for longer.

“He really helped me not just as a wife or a partner, he was my best friend.”

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Friends have set up a GoFundMe to cover the costs of his funeral – and the page has already raised £3,000.

Pal David Bakewell said: “I had only spoken to him the night before. The fact that he is gone is devastating. He played a big part in my life.

“I lived next door to him for a bit too and we worked on the doors together for a while. We were very good friends.

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“He was a big friendly giant who had a heart of gold.”

Norma Carby added: “All he did was spread love everywhere he went and he was a force to be reckoned with. He never used his size or his authority to demean anyone.

“He was known as one of the pioneers of the door industry and was a man of peace and heart. His legacy will live on forever.”

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