BELLS ARE RINGING: Rafa Nadal to marry girlfriend of 14 years at private event in Mallorca

MALLORCA’S favourite son Rafa Nadal is about to tie the knot sooner than expected, according to Spanish TV.

The news that the 17 times Grand Slam champion and native of Manacor was finally going to ‘do the decent thing’ and marry girlfriend of 14 years Xisco Perelló was first hinted at by Hola magazine in January.

But details have been hard to come by apart from a vague “in the Autumn” date, with Nadal and Perelló remaining tight lipped about the event.

Now, according to the Socialité show on Telecinco, it has been revealed the wedding bells are set to ring in June at a private event. The ceremony will be held in an abbey “in the north of Mallorca” chosen because it has enough room to accommodate 500 guests as well as offering privacy from the prying lenses of the paparazzi.

Celebrity chef Quique Dacosta, who has three Michelin Stars, will be in charge of preparing the menu, which will reportedly include typical Mallorcan products. But even on his wedding day Nadal is reportedly maintaining his famous dedication to his sport by having a special menu for himself that conforms to his elite-athlete dietary requirements.

Rafa Nadal and Xisco Perelló began to go out in 2005, when they were introduced by his sister Maribel.

Throughout Nadal’s tennis career Xisco – often referred to as Meri by family – has been at his side, travelling to tournaments as well as holding down jobs in PR with Endesa and as an assistant manager with MAPFRE in Palma.