Madonna has an unlikely ally in her bid to adopt a second African orphan-her former husband.

British director Guy Ritchie is speaking out in defense of his ex after a Malawai judge denied her request to adopt a three-year-old girl from Malawi on Friday. Guy says he was “saddened” by the judge’s refusal to allow the pop legend to bring home little Mercy James.

“Madonna is a fantastic and loving mother who cares deeply about her own children, and children who may need additional help and support,” Guy said in a statement released Friday.

“I fully supported Madonna in her decision to apply for this adoption, and I am saddened that her application has been rejected. She is motivated only by being a caring parent who seeks to share some of the advantages and opportunities that her life has given her,” his statement continued.

“This time it did not work out, but there will be other opportunities and I wish her well in them. She is a great mum,” Guy’s statement concluded.

Madonna’s application to adopt Chifundo “Mercy” James was rejected by a Malawi judge Friday morning in court. But why was the adoption rejected? Read more on this story below.

The Malawi judge rejected Madonna’s bid to adopt the little girl called Mercy James.

The judge cited requirements that adoptive parents must reside in the country for 18 to 24 months.

Madonna, 50, can appeal against the order. Madonna was granted the adoption of David Banda, 3, in 2006 without meeting the residency requirements, which caused outrage by non-governmental groups that felt she was using her celebrity status to bend the laws.

Most expected Judge Esme Chombo to grant the adoption at Lilongwe High Court.

“We support her adoption process,” Information Minister Patricia Kaliati said yesterday. “Madonna’s been good to us. She’s supporting over 25,000 orphans in this country, and she’s proved she can take care of David.”

Mercy’s uncles, Peter Baneti and John Ngalande, signed off on the papers Monday. They were also present at Madonna’s pre-adoption party at the luxe Kumbali Lodge Thursday night.

“Mercy is now assured of a good education away from the abject poverty of our village,” Baneti told Us yesterday. “Madonna has assured us she will not cut her ties with us.”

Madonna’s lawyer Alan Chinula told Us Wednesday: “I am not sleeping sleepless nights over this. I don’t see any law in Malawi that can stop this adoption.”

Chinula told Us the residency restriction law is over 50 years old and “archaic.”

Let’s hope Madonna can appeal this ruling and be able to give little Mercy James a better life.

The Malawi government is backing Madonna’s controversial decision to adopt a second child, Mercy James, 4, because of the help she’s given the African country. Read more on Madonna’s adoption below.

There was quite a bit of controversy surrounding Madonna’s desire to adopt a second child from Malawi. But the government there is allowing the adoption to proceed and tells of how good Madonna has been to them.

“Madonna has been good to us,” Information Minister Patricia Kaliati said Thursday.

“Very few rich and famous people can take time to fly all the way to Malawi to support our children. We support her adoption process.”

Kaliati said Madonna has provided support for 25,000 Malawian orphans and has proven she can take care of her first adopted child, David Banda.

The country’s high court is expected to rule Friday on whether Madonna can adopt a 4-year-old girl named Mercy James.

Many rights groups have verbally bashed Madonna for her attempt to take a second child from a nation that normally does not permit foreigners to adopt. But why would these groups not want a child to have a better life?

Madonna, who arrived in Malawi on Sunday, has denied breaking any laws.

Madonna’s adopted son David Banda’s father, Yohane Banda, said he is pleased with Madonna’s plans. Yohane was forced to place David in an orphanage after the death of his mother.

“Mercy and David will grow up together and remind each other that they come from a poor country called Malawi and hope they will do something about it,” Yohane Banda said.

What do you guys think of Madonna’s decision to adopt a second child from Malawi?

According to the N.Y. Daily News, Alex Rodriguez has slithered back to ex-wife Cynthia Rodriguez in the wake of his steroid scandal – and Madonna is not happy.

“Madge is pissed!” reveals an insider, after A-Rod fled to Coral Gables, Fla., to be with C-Rod. “Alex ran right home to Cynthia. To Madonna, it’s the ultimate dis.”

According to sources, the Queen of Pop – who has been spotted with model Jesus Luz of late – is livid because A-Rod didn’t come to her for solace.

The reason? “Alex’s handlers want to make sure he’s as far from Madonna as possible,” says the insider. “He has enough negative publicity as it is.”

Even after their messy divorce scandal last year, Alex Rodriguez is said to be finding comfort in the arms of ex-wife Cynthia amid the fallout from his positive steroid test.

No stranger to the spotlight, the Material Girl has gotten her fair share of attention lately by squiring Jesus Luz, a 22-year-old Brazilian, around New York.

But her camp insists that her dalliances with Luz – who’s featured wet and making out with Madonna in W magazine’s March issue – are just for publicity.

“Madonna and A-Rod have been burning up the phones,” reports the insider, “and she keeps on insisting that Jesus Luz is just a PR stunt.”

“Alex Rodriguez says he understands,” the source added. “But now he’s asking her to understand that salvaging his career is his priority.”

The predicament has at least brought one upside to the slugger: Now that he’s unable to focus all his attention on Madonna, she only wants him more.

“Madge is totally making a play to get him back,” confides a spy.

“She feels Alex is only with [Cynthia Rodriguez] for comfort, but she wishes he had come to her. She has been the subject of negative press her whole career, and she wants to help him understand that this too shall pass.”

The source says Her Madgesty is already making plans for a rendezvous.

“She’s so desperate to see Alex, she’s plotting a way that they can sneak out to the Hamptons to work things out. She wants to have some alone time.”

Will she and A-Rod be together again soon – or is Alex’s reunion with Cynthia Rodriguez more than a one-shot deal? We’ll have to wait and see.