Wife: Madonna lured A-Rod with kabbalah

NEW YORK, July 4 (UPI) -- Alex Rodriguez's estranged wife is telling people Madonna lured the New York Yankees star away by getting him interested in Kabbalah, a friend of his wife says.

The New York Daily News quoted a close friend of Cynthia Rodriguez as saying she blames the pop star for breaking up her five-year marriage by using Kabbalah, a mystical component of Judaism, to brainwash the ball player into thinking he and the married singer are "soulmates."

"I believe he was having an affair with Madonna," the Daily News reported Cynthia Rodriguez told a friend. "She said she found a letter where Alex told Madonna, 'You are my true soulmate.' ... I feel like Madonna is using mind control over him. I don't recognize the man he's become. He was a sweet, beautiful, loving husband and father. Today he's very cold and calculating."

The insider said Cynthia Rodriguez is heartbroken over the recent breakup of her marriage, but insisted she still loves her husband.

Madonna's publicist has denied the singer and ball player are anything more than friends. She also has dismissed reports Madonna's seven-year marriage to British filmmaker Guy Ritchie is in trouble.