Cristiano Ronaldo did not attend Diogo Jota’s funeral (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh, Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo did not attend the funeral of his former teammate Diogo Jota today in order not to cause any distraction from the event.
Former Liverpool and Portugal forward Jota tragically died in a car accident this week at the age of 28, alongside his brother Andre.
The pair are being buried today in the small town of Gondomar, and the Daily Mirror claim Ronaldo was wary of attending.
The Al Nassr superstar is such a big name that it could perhaps have caused some distress to Jota’s family and friends if his presence drew in even more crowds, journalists and photographers.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s tribute to Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota and Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Ronaldo and Jota won the Nations League with the Portuguese national team earlier this summer, and the former Manchester United man paid tribute to his old international colleague on social media shortly after the sad news broke on Thursday.
He wrote: “It doesn’t make sense. We were just together in the national team, and you had just gotten married.
“To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”
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Liverpool players attend Diogo Jota funeral
Liverpool players such as Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones, and Andrew Robertson were in attendance for today’s service as they bid farewell to their teammate and friend.
Liverpool players and former club captain Jordan Henderson at Diogo Jota’s funeral (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
The news has shocked the footballing world, and it must be particularly painful for Liverpool’s fans who watched him play every week, as well as his teammates, some of whom had known him for years.
CaughtOffside’s thoughts are with all of his family, friends and teammates at this difficult time.
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