London, Apr.22 : Portuguese and Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend Nereida Gallardo has been described by her pals as a caring person, but one who also loves to party and make a splash off and on.

According to The Sun, the Majorcan beauty caught the eye of the all-conquering Manchester United winger at a Spanish nightclub in January, where she was dancing with her friends.

Nereida, meaning water nymph, has posed topless for a sizzling seaside photo-shoot while working as a nursing assistant, and it was not the first time that she had done so.

The 24-year-old beauty's money worries could be over with her hooking up with Ronaldo, who is set to seal a new 150,000-pound-a-week deal.

Ronaldo flies her over to Manchester regularly so that she can watch his silky skills on the pitch, and she has stayed at his four million pound pad in Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

Nereida's friend Lorenzo told The Sun: "She is a caring person. Away from her humdrum working life, though, Nereida is quite the party animal, sporting a pierced belly button and a tattoo."

Despite her Catholic upbringing, she is a regular at Majorca's Tito's nightclub in the city of Palma and loves riding motorbikes.

Lorenzo added: "She likes clubbing. She goes clubbing a lot. She is a fun girl."

Despite her racy reputation, Nereida went to a good Catholic school.

She drives a modest Ford Ka and still lives with her mum Ana and stepfather Francisco in a pleasant semi-detached home in a suburb just outside the city.

Nereida has met Cristiano's mum and sister, while she has introduced him to her parents.

ANI