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Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo was a notable absentee at the late Portugal star Diogo Jota’s funeral earlier this year.
Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t worried about the criticism over his decision. (AP Photo)
Cristiano Ronaldo has slammed critics over his decision to skip the funeral of his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota earlier this year, saying his conscience is good while also citing a couple of reasons. Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a tragic car accident in July this year, sending the football world into mourning.
Some of Jota’s club and international teammates attended his funeral, but Ronaldo was a notable absentee. Speaking to Piers Morgan in a wide-ranging interview, the 40-year-old said he has never been to a cemetery since his father’s death and he didn’t attend Jota’s funeral to avoid creating a circus.
“Two things; people criticise me a lot. I don’t care about that,” Ronaldo said. “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.”
“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. I am not a part of that. 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. I felt good with my decision,” he added.
Ronaldo made an acrimonious exit from Manchester United in November 2022 after openly criticising the club during an interview. He joined Al-Nassr in a jaw-dropping deal that reportedly saw him taking home a tax-free annual salary of USD 200 million.
Ronaldo still maintains that Manchester United needs change as it’s not on the right path.
“I’m sad because it’s one of the most important clubs in the world, a club that I still have in my heart,” Ronaldo, 40, told Morgan in a recent interview. “You have to work with smart people to create a base for the future as Manchester did so many years ago with Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, (Roy) Keane, (David) Beckham; they became big players but had youth. Manchester United right now don’t have a structure.”
“I hope that changes in the present future because the potential of the club is amazing. It’s one of the most important clubs of the century. We all have to be honest and say they are not in a good path. They need to change. It’s not only about the coach and players, in my opinion, it’s much more,” he added.
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital…Read More
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital… Read More
November 08, 2025, 09:24 IST
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