Raphinha Opens Up on Struggles After Tenerife’s Jesus de Miguel Passes Away
Barcelona forward Raphinha shared how difficult it was to focus on football during their Champions League win against Aston Villa following the sudden death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel. The Brazilian revealed that hearing about de Miguel’s passing deeply affected his mindset before the match.
Shock in Spanish Football
On Monday, the football world in Spain was stunned when 30-year-old Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a collision with Real Oviedo goalkeeper Jesus Owono. In response, the Royal Spanish Football Federation postponed all domestic games for three days, but Champions League fixtures continued as planned.
Before kickoff at Camp Nou, the usual tournament anthem was replaced by a minute of silence to honor de Miguel. Despite the emotional weight, Barcelona managed a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, ending the English side’s perfect run in Europe. Lamine Yamal scored first, followed by two goals from Raphinha.
“This Could Have Happened to Any of Us”
After the final whistle, Raphinha spoke openly to Movistar about how tough it was to play under such tragic circumstances. He was visibly affected and chose to focus on the human loss rather than the team’s strong showing.
“Wherever [De Miguel] is, I hope he finds his way,” Raphinha said. “I want to send strength to his family… today, I don’t want to talk about football.”
“When I saw the news, I didn’t feel good. He was one of us, a fellow player. This could have happened to any of us. It could have happened to me.”
Sharing the Same Age Added to the Impact
The tragedy hit Raphinha especially hard because he was the same age as de Miguel. He admitted it made going out to play even more difficult.
“It’s very difficult to go out and play a game in these circumstances,” Raphinha explained. “He was the same age as me. Maybe that’s why it affected me so much.”
Manager Hansi Flick Offers Condolences
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick also expressed his sorrow during the post-match press conference, acknowledging the grief in the dressing room.
“What happened in Tenerife affected him a lot, like all of us,” Flick said. “Our deepest condolences go to the family, the club, and friends… it’s a big tragedy. I think it affected him deeply.”
Raphinha’s Strong Season Continues
Despite the emotional challenge, Raphinha has been enjoying a standout season in attack. His two goals against Aston Villa brought his total to 19 across all competitions, the highest among players in Europe's top five leagues. The win also marked Barcelona’s first Champions League clean sheet in 18 matches, putting them on nine points in the group.
La Liga leaders now prepare for a crucial away game against Atletico Madrid on Sunday. After setbacks against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in late October, Flick’s squad bounced back well with their European success and a recent 6-1 La Liga win over Alaves.
