Football
REVEALED: What Ronaldo said to Diogo Jota’s family before the funeral as reason for Portugal captain’s absence
The heartfelt message Cristiano Ronaldo sent to Diogo Jota’s family ahead of the Liverpool forward’s funeral has now been revealed.
The football world was left in shock on Thursday after tragic news emerged that Jota and his brother Andre Silva had been killed in a car accident in Zamora, Spain.
The pair were reportedly traveling back to England when their vehicle suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking on the dangerous A-52 dual carriageway, leading to a fatal crash.
In line with Portuguese tradition, funeral services for Jota and his brother were held in their hometown of Gondomar on Saturday morning.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot and several members of the squad attended to pay their respects, alongside other football figures such as Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot, and Portugal internationals Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves.
Despite having shared an emotional tribute to Jota online, Portugal captain Ronaldo did not attend the funeral. Instead, he chose to remain with his family in Mallorca, citing concerns about his presence creating an overwhelming media frenzy at the private ceremony.
According to Portuguese outlet Record, Ronaldo personally contacted Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, ahead of the funeral. In his message, the Al Nassr forward reportedly assured her that he would always stand by her and the couple’s three young children during this unimaginable time of grief.
However, not everyone agreed with Ronaldo’s decision to stay away. Portuguese sports journalist and commentator Luis Cristovao slammed the omission, describing it as “inexplicable.” He added, “Since it’s inexplicable, any attempt at justification will fail to cover the gravity of his absence.”
Ronaldo’s emotional tribute to Jota
Following confirmation of the tragic accident, Ronaldo took to social media to share his heartbreak and send condolences to Jota’s loved ones. He wrote:
“It doesn’t make sense. Just recently we were together with the national team, and not long ago you celebrated your wedding. To your family, your wife, and your children, I extend my heartfelt condolences and wish them all the strength they need in this difficult time. I believe you will continue to watch over them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. You will be profoundly missed.”
The passing of Diogo Jota at just 28 has left an immense void in both Liverpool and Portuguese football, with tributes continuing to pour in from across the globe.
Football
‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer
Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.
The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.
In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.
The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.
Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.
Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.
Football
Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider
Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.
In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.
The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.
With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.
Football
Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.
A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.
Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.
Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.
Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.
After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.
Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.
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