THEY were childhood sweethearts who looked set to go the distance before their 10 year romance sadly ran its course last year.

But while Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford, 26, appears to be spiralling, his ex Lucia Loi is on the up, with a revamped social media and cool new fashion brand.

Lucia Loi, Marcus Rashford's ex, shared this snap to 'rise from the social media grave' on Instagram Credit: lucialoi/instagram

A month after they reportedly broke up in June last year, having only got engaged the previous May, Lucia, 26, told her fans on Instagram that she had “risen from the social media grave and was starting new”.

She received a flood of support from the Three Lions WAGs, with defender Luke Shaw's girlfriend Anouska Santos commenting: "Oh and I’m here for it my princess."

Delle Alli's partner Ruby Mae lit the post up with three fire emojis, while Man City star Jack Grealish's other half Sasha Attwood wrote "Yayyy” accompanied by a string of love-heart emojis.

Despite rumours Lucia and Marcus had reconciled in November, there is no trace of their relationship on Lucia's social media accounts, other than the fact they still follow each other.

Meanwhile sweet photos of them together, complete with soppy captions, remain on his.

Relationship expert Jo Hemmings told The Sun this is likely a coping mechanism following their split and a way of Lucia taking back control.

"It's the best thing for her, clearly. It implies she isn't leaving the door open for reconciliation," she said.

"It's time for her to find herself as she opens a new chapter, which she needs to make clear.

Rashford proposed to Lucia in Hollywood in May 2022

"At the same time, I think it is her way of coping - by empowering herself it's an easier way to move on.

"You don't want to be reminded - they got back together once and I don't think she wants that again."

Jo added that it was endearing to see her fellow WAGs unite to support her: "I think they would have watched everything Lucia has gone through.

"More than likely she would have spoken to them through the rough times and confided a lot... they would have all have been through it themselves dating footballers.

"The women don't want to be viewed just as footballer wives, they want to be seen in their own right, carving out successful careers, and this is clearly an example of them staking a stance."

Hemmings said while the split was “very sad”, Lucia is now "stepping out from the sidelines" and working towards her own goals.

She added: “All the while Marcus was in the spotlight, I suspect Lucia tasted being in the background of the shine of that and developed her own desires and ambitions.

“She had a good support system and perfect background to give her own career a go.”

A self-starter, Lucia worked as an account executive for Manchester firm Sugar PR after graduating from university with a first-class honours degree in advertising and brand management.

She then interned at online fashion giants Pretty Little Thing and Social Chain Agency, and has since gone on to enjoy a prosperous career in public relations.

In November, savvy Lucia launched her own clothing company, Basics by Redi, with a cheeky nod to her break-up.

Writing on the company's social media, she posted: "Heartbroken? Redi.”

She also shared a snap of a handwritten letter addressed to "girls in their 20s" which discusses dealing with "turbulent times".

"This is a decade where we can carve our path and feel as much as we can," it read. "Embrace the confusion, happiness, love, hangovers and heartbreak as we are still young and so much life to live."

A handwritten note posted on Redi's Instagram page that implies Lucia is ready to move on Credit: basicsbyredi/instagram

Jo said their split reflects a common pattern in relationships that start out as childhood sweethearts.

“As 15-year-olds when they met, they were both schoolkids with everything to live for and probably on the same page in terms of grounded ambition and achievement," she explained.

“But as we grow older our characters and personalities change, along with our emotional maturity.

"It is a lucky couple who manages to invest enough in each other’s needs and support one another through those highly impressionable years from mid-teens to mid-twenties.

“Amplify that by the meteoric rise to fame that Rashford had and the whole process becomes much more complex.”

Fans have speculated on social media that Marcus' dip in form on the pitch has coincided with his split from Lucia - with some even suggesting she was his "lucky charm".

Last Valentine's Day Rashford went all out with candles and flowers at the couple’s Manchester home and later hired a Boeing 737 to whisk his fiancee to New York.

Following their engagement a source told The Sun: "Lucia has been a big part of Marcus' life since school, offering stability, a sense of belonging, a relatability, and assurance, that can be rare to find in this world.

"This is a very special, welcomed moment for them both and everyone wished them nothing but the best."

Pictures showed the striker smiling and full of confidence, which seemed to be rubbing off on the pitch as he enjoyed an incredible goal streak.

Last season Rashford bagged an incredible 30 goals in 56 appearances - but he has just four to his name this season.

One United supporter posting on X, formerly Twitter, said: "As soon as Rashford got back with Lucia, he scored #results."

Another wrote: ‘Rashford should never breakup with Lucia until he decides to end his professional career," while one tweeted: "Some girlfriends bring you good luck, example is Lucia Loi in Rashford life…whenever they’re not together his performance will diminish, once together he’ll start balling [sic]."

A source previously told The Sun the former couple have remained on good terms, adding: "It’s nothing complicated. The relationship ran its course and they remain very close friends."

Lucia pictured supporting Rashford in Russia at the 2018 Fifa World Cup Credit: Reuters