Barcelona captain Raphinha has sent condolences to the family of late Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel following his side’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday.
Raphinha, who scored twice in the encounter, dedicated Barcelona’s victory to De Miguel’s family, saying he was too affected by the player’s death to discuss football after the match.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Tuesday, Raphinha was quoted as saying, “Sorry, tonight I don’t want to talk about football. It’s clear that I want to dedicate this win to the fans, but I want to send a lot of strength to Jesús de Miguel’s family.
“May he rest in peace. In the end, this can happen to anyone. The truth is that it’s very tough. When we saw the news this morning, it was complicated. I’m incredibly shocked and sad,” the Brazilian added.
Raphinha further expressed sympathy for the deceased player’s family, noting that the incident could happen to any professional footballer.
“In the end, you go to play a match, and the same thing could happen to you. From myself and the club, we want to send a lot of strength to his family,” he said.
De Miguel, 30, died on Tuesday morning at a hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife after suffering cardiac arrest following a heavy collision during Tenerife’s Segunda División fixture against FC Andorra on Monday evening.
The incident occurred in stoppage time with the score level at 2-2, when Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed out of his area to clear a long ball but struck De Miguel in the chest with his knee.
Owono was subsequently shown a red card, while the match was abandoned.
De Miguel received medical attention on the pitch and was resuscitated after suffering cardiac arrest before being rushed to hospital, where he was admitted to intensive care. His condition later deteriorated.
Raphinha, who was named man of the match after his brace helped Barcelona secure victory at the Spotify Camp Nou, said the news had affected him deeply from the moment he woke up.
The Brazilian’s celebrations after scoring were notably subdued as he continued to reflect on the death of his fellow professional.
Before Barcelona’s match, a minute’s silence was observed in De Miguel’s memory, while the Champions League anthem was not played.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick also expressed his condolences, saying the news had affected the squad.
Meanwhile, Spanish football authorities postponed some domestic fixtures as a mark of respect, while tributes continued across European football.
Tenerife and De Miguel’s family have appealed for privacy during the difficult period.
