Reports: Madonna and Guy Ritchie to Announce Divorce Imminently

Citing unnamed sources, The Sun reports the couple want a divorce finalized by Christmas.

Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, who've been married for eight years, "can't bear to live with the pretense any longer," a source told The Sun.

"It's very sad. They were a great couple and brilliant parents. They just couldn't live together.

"Despite huge attempts to patch things up, they both knew deep down that divorce was in the cards. It wasn't a matter of 'if' but 'when.' They tried hard over the past few months, but their fighting was getting out of control.

"The final straw came before Madonna started her US tour."

Though Madonna wanted to wait to announce their split until after her global "Sticky and Sweet" tour, their fighting got so bad that Ritchie just wanted out, according to the Sun.

Madonna finally agreed.

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The The New York Post - which says an announcement could come as early as today -- reports that they made a last-ditch attempt to save their marriage with an intensive Kabbalah course in Manhattan.

"Ritchie flew into New York a few weeks ago specifically to undergo instruction with his wife to try to patch things up, but to no avail," the Post reports, citing a source.

The couple live primarily in London, so their divorce is expected to move through courts there.

The Daily Mail - which also cites unnamed sources - is already estimating that Ritchie will pocket about $100 million in a settlement.

The pair has three children between them: Lourdes, 12, Madonna's daughter from her relationship with actor and personal trainer Carlos Leon; and Ritchie and Madonna's sons, Rocco, 8, and David, 2.

Madonna and Ritchie have clashed over everything from their kids to where they should live: the United States or England, sources said. Madonna also reportedly wants to adopt another child, which Ritchie is against.

Ritchies's mother, Lady Amber Leighton, told reporters at her west London home she would not comment on the matter: "We are not talking to press and we won't be all day."

Barbara Charone, Madonna's London-based rep, told news agency AFP: "No comment. We're not going to know anything until the U.S. wakes up."

Madonna has been linked to the recent divorce of New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriquez and his wife, Cynthia Rodriquez, as Us Weekly first reported.

Madonna vehemently denied rumors of a romance.

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On Oct. 2, Us reported the two took in a cozy dinner at Dos Caminos in NYC.

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