It touched me a lot – Raphinha sends strength to Jesus de Miguel’s family
The Tenerife forward was remembered ahead of Champions League matches following his death on Tuesday morning.
Raphinha found it difficult to play in Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Aston Villa after the death of Jesus de Miguel.
Tenerife forward De Miguel died on Tuesday morning following a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second division match on Monday.
Owono was sent off for the challenge having raced from his goal and struck 30-year-old De Miguel at force, with the Tenerife player subsequently suffering a cardiac arrest.
Domestic Spanish games were called off as a result but Champions League matches went ahead, including Barcelona’s clash with Villa at the Nou Camp.
A minute’s silence was held ahead of the contest, which Barca won 3-0, with Raphinha scoring twice.
But, speaking to CBS Sports afterwards, the Brazilian refused to speak about the game, saying: “I want to send a lot of strength to the family of Jesus. Today I’m not going to talk about football.
“For me, the truth is it was quite difficult (to play). After seeing the news, of course I didn’t have good feelings. He’s a fellow player and it could have happened to anyone, it could have happened to me.
“He was the same age as me, I don’t know if that’s why it affected me more. It’s been a difficult day. Personally, it touched me a lot.”
The Tenerife match was suspended after the incident, which occurred in stoppage time, with distressed players calling for immediate medical attention.
Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, though that is standard practice under Spanish law and Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui told Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were “very unlikely”.
A statement from Tenerife announcing De Miguel’s death read: “We stand alongside his devastated family, alongside his loved ones… that today weep for this cruel outcome.”
In their own statement on Tuesday evening, Andorra said the club were “deeply shocked”, adding: “The first thing we want to do is express our most sincere condolences to his family, CD Tenerife and all those who were close to him.
“We know that no words can ease such pain, but we want them to know that we are by their side and that we deeply share their sadness.”