Cristiano Ronaldo Addresses Absence from Diogo Jota's Funeral
Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo was notably absent from the funeral of his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota earlier this year. Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, tragically died in a car accident in July, causing widespread mourning in the football community.
Ronaldo's Explanation
In a candid interview with Piers Morgan, the 40-year-old explained why he chose not to attend the funeral. Ronaldo revealed he has not visited a cemetery since his father's death, and he wanted to avoid creating a media spectacle.
“Two things; people criticise me a lot. I don’t care about that. When your conscience is good and free, you don’t have to worry about what people say. But one of the things I don’t do? After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again. When you know me and you know my reputation? Wherever I go, it is a circus. I don’t go out because, if I go, the attention goes to me. I don’t want this sort of attention.”
Criticism and Personal Boundaries
Ronaldo also addressed criticism over his decision to skip the funeral and criticized those who use sensitive moments for interviews or publicity.
“I don’t like it when you go to a sensitive moment to do interviews, to speak about him, to speak about football. This shows how a circus is life, sometimes. If you want to be a part of this world, good luck, but I will be a part of another side. People can continue to criticise.”
Summary
Ronaldo maintains a strong sense of personal boundaries and chooses to protect his privacy during difficult times, despite public scrutiny.
Author's summary: Cristiano Ronaldo explained his absence at Diogo Jota's funeral by highlighting his grief-related refusal to visit cemeteries and his desire to avoid media attention during sensitive moments.