Sao Paulo - Jesus Luz, the 22-year-old Brazilian model photographed with Madonna last year, has doused speculation of a romantic link-up with the pop star.

'She is a person I admire a lot, a friend in my life who I worked with and who I stay in contact with. Beyond that I can't say any more. We're friends,' he told a Brazilian Sunday television show called Fantastico in his first public interview.

He added that though his modelling career has taken off since meeting the Material Girl late last year on a photo shoot they shared for an American magazine, he remained a 'normal guy'.

Madonna, 50, he said, 'is a wonderful person, full of positive energy'.

Rumours of his relationship with the singer hit the gossip pages when he was snapped kissing her during a party in Rio de Janeiro following a concert she gave.

Before that exchange, Luz was an unknown talent doing catwalk shows for US$170 (S$246) a session.

Now, Fantastico said, he is buying an apartment in Rio. -AFP