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Cristiano Ronaldo said that he is content with his decision not to attend Diogo Jota's funeral as he laid out his reasons for his absence.
Ronaldo's Portugal teammate died alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in Spain on July 3, and the pair were laid to rest in Gondomar, near Porto, two days later. A number of Jota's teammates attended the funeral, but Portugal captain Ronaldo was not among them, prompting insensitive questions from some over why he chose not to attend.
Explaining his decision, Ronaldo told Piers Morgan Uncensored: "People criticized me a lot. I don't care about that — when you feel your conscience is good and free, you don't have to worry about what the people say.
"But one of the things I don't do... after my father died [in 2005], I've never been in the cemetery again. And second, wherever I go, is a circus. I don't go because if I go, the attention will be on me, and I don't want this kind of attention."
Ronaldo also said he did not like the idea of giving an interview and speaking about Jota in the wake of his death. "I didn't like it, when you go in some sensitive moments, to do interviews. To speak about him (Jota), to speak about football. — come on guys, what is this? This shows how circus-like life is sometimes. I'm not part of that.
"If you want to be part of this world, good luck. I'm going to be on the other side. People can criticize me, but I felt good with my decision."
Recalling the moment he heard that Jota had died, Ronaldo said: "I was with Gio (fiancee Georgina Rodriguez) in our period of rest. I was in the gym in the morning. I didn't believe it when they sent me the messages.
"I cried a lot. Gio can confirm that. It was very, very difficult moment for the country, for family, for friends, for teammates. It was very, very, very sad news."
Taking to Instagram shortly after Jota's death four months ago, Ronaldo wrote: “It doesn't make sense. We were just together in the national team, and you had just gotten married.
"To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”
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