Sofia Vergara reveals real reason for divorce from Joe Manganiello: ‘I didn’t want to be an old mom’

The Modern Family actress reflected on her and Manganiello's divorce and revealed the reasons the relationship ended. Photo / AP

Sofia Vergara split from Joe Manganiello because he wanted children and she did not.

The 51-year-old Modern Family actress — whose eight-year marriage to Manganiello, 47, broke down last summer — has reflected on their divorce and the reasons for the end of their relationship.

She told Spanish publication El Pais: “My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids and I didn’t want to be an old mom.”

While she has “respect” for anyone who becomes a parent later in life, she insisted it wasn’t the right move for her.

She added: “I feel it’s not fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that’s not for me anymore.”

Manganiello wanted to have more children but Vergara did not. Photo / Getty Images

Vergara — who has son, Manolo, from her first marriage to Joe Gonzalez, her high school sweetheart — insisted she feels more prepared to be a grandparent instead.

She explained: “I had a son at 19, who is now 32, and I’m ready to be a grandmother, not a mother. So, if love comes along, he has to come with [his own] children.”

She also pointed to where she’s at in her own life as she looks ahead to her 50s and beyond.

She added: “I’m almost in menopause - it’s the natural way of things.

”When my son becomes a dad, let him bring the baby to me for a while and then I’ll give it back to him and go on with my life; that’s what I have to do.”

Vergara recently admitted she is ready to start the search for a new partner — and she suggested New York City could be a good place to find Mr Right because there are “more men” and they don’t all work in show business.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — which is filmed in Manhattan — she pondered: “I think that you have more options with men ... I’m single now ...”

”So in New York there’s more people, there’s not only like actors, [writers] or directors … I’m going to spend more time in New York.”