Nathan Cleary’s Sydney reunion with girlfriend Mary Fowler has been called off at the last minute as the Matildas star pulled out of her planned trip to Sydney.
Fowler was meant to be one of the star attractions at the team’s fan day at CommBank stadium in the city’s west on December 21, but organisers announced she is ‘no longer able to attend’ in a statement released on Tuesday.
She and Cleary last saw each other in Perth on November 2 when they bid farewell at the airport just days after Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed their romance in photos of the couple sharing some tender moments in a park.
Fowler returned to the UK to play for Manchester City while Cleary soon jetted out of Australia to continue his offseason holiday with a visit to the USA.
Cleary and Fowler (pictured in late October) haven’t seen each other since bidding farewell at Perth Airport on November 2
![Their fans would have been hoping they'd reunite, with Fowler due to attend a Matildas fans day in Sydney next week - but those plans have fallen through](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/12/21/78883327-12856495-image-a-12_1702416932366.jpg)
Their fans would have been hoping they’d reunite, with Fowler due to attend a Matildas fans day in Sydney next week – but those plans have fallen through
Their fans were hoping Cleary would stay in North America so the couple could reunite when Fowler joined the Matildas for two matches against Canada earlier this month.
However, he returned to Australia to prepare for preseason training with the Penrith Panthers.
On Sunday, Fowler posted an out-of-character pair of selfies showing off a dramatic new look on Instagram.
Wearing a white shoulderless dress, Fowler puckered up for the camera while wearing daring red lipstick.
Cleary – who had been quick to like his girlfriend’s posts up until that point – still has not liked her most recent effort at time of writing, in what is a first for the couple.
Her fans questioned the reasons behind the dramatic new look, which was accompanied by a single red rose emoji.
![The soccer star raised eyebrows as she showed off a dramatic new look on Instagram over the weekend - and unusually, Cleary still hasn't liked the post](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/12/21/78883167-12856495-image-a-13_1702417032070.jpg)
The soccer star raised eyebrows as she showed off a dramatic new look on Instagram over the weekend – and unusually, Cleary still hasn’t liked the post
![Fowler (pictured before a Manchester City game) also got tongues wagging when she posted a cryptic poem referring to life's 'awful moments' recently](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/12/21/78883171-12856495-image-a-14_1702417068442.jpg)
Fowler (pictured before a Manchester City game) also got tongues wagging when she posted a cryptic poem referring to life’s ‘awful moments’ recently
![Fans held out hope Cleary would extend his trip to the USA so he could catch up with Mary when she played in Canada earlier this month - but he chose to return home to prepare for preseason training with Penrith (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/12/21/78883173-12856495-image-m-17_1702417167923.jpg)
Fans held out hope Cleary would extend his trip to the USA so he could catch up with Mary when she played in Canada earlier this month – but he chose to return home to prepare for preseason training with Penrith (pictured)
On November 28 the 20-year-old soccer star raised eyebrows when she posted a cryptic poem referring to life’s ‘awful moments’.
The piece by renowned author LR Knost focused on the challenges people face every day and urged them to ‘breathe in the amazing’ and ‘exhale during the ordinary’ moments in their day.
That post has since been taken down.
Last week Cleary was left red-faced when he was asked about Fowler as he attended the GQ Awards on his own in Sydney.
Asked, ‘Where’s Mary?’ he responded, ‘I knew this was coming,’ as he blushed.
‘I’m just here by myself… no plus one.’
![Cleary was left red-faced when he was asked about his love interest when he rocked up alone at the recent GQ Awards in Sydney (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/12/21/78883175-12856495-image-a-18_1702417381256.jpg)
Cleary was left red-faced when he was asked about his love interest when he rocked up alone at the recent GQ Awards in Sydney (pictured)
Fowler’s absence from the Sydney fan day was sent to ticket holders and said: ‘We are sorry to inform you that Mary Fowler is no longer able to attend the event at CommBank stadium next Thursday 21 December.
‘We are excited to announce that superstar forward, Caitlin Foord will be joining Mackenzie Arnold and Alanna Kennedy on the field for a show-stopping event, including a live masterclass and an insight into their personal and professional lives.’
CommBank stadium is just a relatively short drive from Cleary’s home base at Penrith in Sydney’s outer west.
When the pair were photographed embracing in Perth in late October, Fowler declined to comment when Daily Mail Australia asked about the romantic display, saying: ‘Sorry, I just want to get back to my hotel.’
The Manchester City star and NRL premiership winner have been romantically linked since being spotted together twice following the Matildas’ World Cup campaign.
![The couple's romance went public when Daily Mail Australia exclusively captured photos of them sharing some tender moments in a Perth park on October 31 (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/12/21/78883343-12856495-image-m-20_1702417474916.jpg)
The couple’s romance went public when Daily Mail Australia exclusively captured photos of them sharing some tender moments in a Perth park on October 31 (pictured)
The pair were then seen sharing an ice cream following a promotional event hosted by Adidas, a brand both athletes endorse.
Just days before their romance went public, Cleary was photographed with two Matildas fans outside Optus Stadium just before the Aussies’ 8-0 victory over the Philippines, with Fowler scoring the opening goal.
Matildas supporter Annie Lewin shared the shot of Cleary with the caption ‘silly for the tillies’, giving the clearest indication to that point that there was a romantic connection between the pair.
Cleary had previously been partying with friends and family in Bali.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk