War of the Ritchies: The bitter rows over Kabbalah, adoption and New York that led to Madonna and Guy's split

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:22 PM on 16th October 2008

Madonna may have publicly branded Guy Ritchie 'emotionally retarded', but that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of her grievances against her soon to be ex husband.

The couple are said to have endured a string of bitter rows and mud-slinging in recent months over a wide reaching range of issues.

Madonna is said decided to end the marriage after Guy became increasing irritated by  her obsession with Kabbalah and his refusal to move to New York.

Bitter rows: The tensions between Guy Ritchie and Madonna showed through at the premiere of RocknRolla in London in September

She is reported to have told friends he also failed to support her plans adopt a three-year-old Malawian girl, which she still intends to push ahead with.

She also apparently complained that he was tight with his purse strings and declined  to tap into his own £30million fortune to pay for their lifestyle.

A source told The Sun: 'When Guy heard the reasons Madonna was divorcing him he hit the roof. He thinks she's trying to make him out to be the villain of the piece. He's incandescent with rage.

Sticking point: Madonna, pictured here leaving a Kabbalah center earlier this month, is said to have argued with Guy over the faith and her plans to adopt another child

'The situation is on a knife edge. Guy can't believe some of the things Madonna has said about him.

'Noone knows if this is going to be settled easily or turn into an absolute bloodbath.'

The rows culminated in an almighty fall-out last Friday in which the singer gave her husband an ultimatum to move from London to New York with her.

Ritchie, 40, reacted furiously and refused to relocate - sealing their fate.

'Guy just went mad saying there was no way he was moving abroad away from his roots and family on a whim just because Madonna desired another of her notorious image changes,' a well-placed source told the Mail.

'Madonna was incensed, telling him, "either you're in or out".'

The couple have also argued about their religious beliefs.

A source adds: 'Madonna believes the reason she is a world icon is that she  has somehow been chosen to channel messages to the masses.

'She feels her destiny has been preordained. Guy on the other hand thinks that's a load of b*******.'

Guy is believed to have branded Madonna a control freak, with a source saying: 'Guy felt emasculated through the marriage.'

Madonna's close friendship with her former lover Carlos Leon is also rumoured to have been a source of tension between the couple.

New York based personal trainer Leon, who is the father of Madonna's 12-year-old daughter Lourdes, has become the singer's 'rock' in recent times, according to sources.

He is known to have been staying in the singer's New York apartment, overseeing redecoration, and the pair have been under the same roof while she's in the city as part of her Sticky & Sweet tour.

An insider tells says: 'Guy and Carlos always had a very friendly relationship. But that recently turned sour because Madonna had been getting closer to Carlos'.

And of course there is her rumoured relationship with relationship with baseball star Alex Rodriguez.

The two have been linked since early July when it was reported by the same magazine that he had been making late-night visits to her Central Park West apartment in New York.

Rodriguez's wife Cynthia then launched divorce proceedings because of his 'extramarital affairs'.

Cynthia told friends at the time she believed her husband and Madonna had 'an affair of the heart'. Madonna vehemently denied a relationship with Rodriguez at the time.

Earlier this month, Madonna reportedly invited Rodriguez to spend the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur with her and her three children.

A family friend told American magazine Life & Style: 'On Oct. 8, they went to a special Kabbalah service at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. They all left around the same time.'

They reportedly returned to the hotel the next day for seven hours of spiritual readings.

'It’s a very sacred day, so one can only assume she’s feeling very serious about Alex,' added the friend.

A source added: 'Guy was horrified to learn that she invited Alex to [spend time with] her and her children.'

Another insider concluded: 'What started out as love has now ended with real acrimony. It’s very, very sad.'