Chelsea legend Michael Ballack, 45, on holiday in Ibiza with model girlfriend Sophia, 21, despite denying relationship

MICHAEL BALLACK is on holiday in Ibiza with a 21-year-old model friend of his late son Emilio despite denying they are in a relationship.

The Chelsea legend suffered the tragic loss of his 18-year-old son in a quad-biking accident last year.

Ballack, 45, has spent the last year grieving his awful loss, but has managed to find friendship out of tragedy.

Since Emilio's death, the German has become close to model Sophia Schneiderhan.

And now they are currently holidaying together in Ibiza.

Ballack and Sophia enjoyed lunch at restaurant El Chiringuito de Es Cavellet yesterday.

The eatery's menu possesses plenty of share meals for two, including a £93 wild sole meuniere and a £75 sea bass in salt dish.

They then soaked up the sunshine on a nearby beach after their meal.

Ballack has previously denied being in a relationship with Sophia, who was a close friend of Emilio's prior to his tragic passing.

She spent some of her early years in France before moving to Munich, a city in which Ballack is adored for his legendary stint at Bayern.

Her father is a surf school boss turned spinal surgeon, while Sophia herself has been modelling since an early age.

She was first scouted for supervised shoots as early as aged 13, and has modelled for luxury German women's brand Escada.

According to the , Sophia hopes to have five children of her own before eventually following her father into the medical profession.

Emilio, born in 2002, was one of three sons Ballack had with ex-wife Simone Lambe.

The couple wed in 2008 but would go on to divorce in 2012.

Bild sources claim that Ballack's relationship with Sophia has been "good for him" and that the couple are "unbothered" by their 24-year age gap.

Sun Sport has contacted Ballack for comment.