Cristiano Ronaldo defended Diogo Jota after he disrespected him for not attending the funeral

The president of Portugal Football Federation Pedro Proca jumped to the defense of Cristiano Ronaldo after the veteran striker was accused of snatching the funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.

Liverpool’s Starjota and Silva played for Penafiel in Portugal’s second division. He was killed in a car accident in northern Spain on July 3rd and buried two days later.

Ronaldo and Jota were members of the Portuguese team that won the Nations League in June, but the captain of the national team, who plays for Al Nasr in Saudi Arabia, chose not to attend the funeral and instead stayed on a Mallorca family holiday.

“It’s very unfair to criticize Cristiano.”

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United stars were accused of lack of respect, but Proca said he was very active behind the scenes.

He told Expresso:

“From the first hour, the captain was one of the people who were the most common in Jota’s blood family, Jota himself.

“It’s cheating what they said about our Captain Cristiano Ronaldo. He was one of the people who felt it the most because he was a true companion to Jota.

“His physical absence means nothing because he never abandoned this family.”

Ronaldo still scores the goal for Portugal

Ronaldo scored in the final victory of the Spanish international league, extending his own international goal record to 138. It also finished eighth in nine nations league matches, behind Arsenal and Swedish striker Victor Gyoker.

Some Portuguese fans believe it’s time for manager Roberto Martinez to move on from 40-year-old Ronaldo, but Proca says his international career will end just like everyone else.

He added: “Cristiano is either his own free will, or because he is ultimately no longer a technical or sporting option. That will happen to Cristiano, just like any other player.

“This does not prevent Cristiano from telling him he wants to join the national team for many years. He is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best, of all time.

“He is a brand beyond Portugal and I hope Cristiano will be forever. Obviously, there are limits to human nature.”