Jesus Luz, the 22-year-old Brazilian model photographed with pop star Madonna recently, has doused speculation of romantic link-up with the singer by saying they are nothing more than "friends".

"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," Luz told a Brazilian Sunday television show called Fantastico in his first public interview.

He added that, although his modeling career has taken off since meeting the Material Girl late last year on a photo shoot they shared for a US magazine, he remained a "normal guy".

Madonna (50), he said, "is a wonderful person, full of positive energy".

Rumours of his relationship with Madonna 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 $170 a time.

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