Thanks to falling for Alex Rodriguez, it seems like Madonna is never going to get another piece of good press again. To be fair, it’s not like she’s gotten much good press in a long, long time. But she’s coming off as more unlikeable than ever, and that’s really saying something.

Madge and A-Rod have been reported to be looking at new homes in Manhattan for quite awhile. Madonna wants to keep Alex close enough that she can have him whenever she wants, but not so close that they’re living together. She also has a bunch of other requirements, like a non-nosy doorman. But despite the way they’re shifting their lives around for each other, a source told the Daily News that the pair doesn’t have the deep, mystical, soul-stirring connection they want everyone to think they have.

Alex Rodriguez insists that he’s not moving in with Madonna – but a source says Her Madgesty is on a mission to find him a new home base just a stone’s throw from her own. “Before his divorce, Alex was searching for houses on the upper East Side and Madonna offered to help him,” an insider tells us. “She wanted Alex to have a big house that would be suitable for kids, and she didn’t want a building with a nosy doorman who would talk. Madonna wanted a place where they could go and be together without prying eyes.”

Added a pal of the slugger: “They don’t want to be in the same apartment, but they do want to be near one another.” In addition to Madonna’s apartment sleuthing, A-Rod’s friend says, “Both sides have sent their reps to look at places.” Regardless of all the house-hunting, A-Rod claims that he and Madonna are “just friends,” despite the fact that both were conveniently in Mexico City last weekend. Rodriguez says his time was focused on running a baseball clinic for kids, but one source has a slightly different view of the all-star’s relationship with the Queen of Pop.

“Alex and Madonna are very, very cozy,” the insider reveals. “Yes, they are intimate, and they are intoxicated with one another. Alex can’t get over that he’s with Madonna.” But the insider has some sage words of wisdom for Rodriguez: “This isn’t a deep and serious love affair. It will last as long as Madonna wants it to,” our leak predicts. “She could get five or six years out of it – but only if it’s in her best interest to keep him around.”

[From Gatecrasher]

Well I think that sums up Madonna pretty well. She’ll be into Alex for a while and use him while it benefits her, but as to the long-term, there’s nothing substantial there. It sounds like Rodriguez has a bit of puppy love going on. Which is funny since he’s long been reported to be quite the player. Now it seems like he’s being played. Madonna ultimately needs someone who is more complex and will challenge her and stand up to her. Though she’s drawn to people that follow her commands, in the long run they’ll likely get tired of her, or she’ll tire of them. No matter what, it sounds like A-Rod and Madge shouldn’t be exchanging keys quite yet.

Here’s Madonna appearing in Britney Spears’ “For The Record” documentary. Images thanks to WENN.