Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence about his absence from Diogo Jota's funeral in July, revealing in a new interview with Piers Morgan that he made a personal vow never to set foot in a cemetery following his father's death two decades ago.
The Portuguese football icon faced sharp criticism when he failed to appear at the service for his national team-mate, who perished alongside his brother Andre Silva in a devastating motorway crash in Spain.
Speaking candidly to Morgan, the 40-year-old Al-Nassr striker also cited concerns that his attendance would transform the solemn occasion into a media spectacle, diverting attention from the grieving family.
"Two things; people criticise me a lot. I don't care about that. When your conscious is good and free, you don't have to worry about what people say," Ronaldo told Morgan.
Cristiano Ronaldo was criticised for not turning up to Diogo Jota's funeral in July
|PA
"But one of the things I don't do? After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again."
The former Manchester United star explained his second rationale, stating: "When you know me and you know my reputation? Wherever I go, it is a circus.
"I don't go out because, if I go, the attention goes to me. I don't want this sort of attention."
Jose Dinis Aveiro passed away in 2005, when Ronaldo was just 20 years old.
Ronaldo firmly defended his choice, insisting he had provided support to Jota's loved ones away from public view.
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Cristiano Ronaldo revealed he did not turn up to Diogo Jota's funeral because of his father's death
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"People can continue to criticise. I felt good with my decision," he stated.
"I don't need to be in the first line for people to see me.
"I'm thinking about his family, I don't need to be in the cameras for the people to see what I do."
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner revealed he had contacted the bereaved family privately, saying: "I had the opportunity to speak with their family and to give support."
His sister Katia Aveiro had previously taken to Instagram to defend her brother's absence, describing the media frenzy that surrounded their father's funeral years earlier.
The 28-year-old Liverpool forward and his younger brother perished on 3 July when their Lamborghini suffered a tyre blowout whilst overtaking on the A-52 motorway near Zamora, northwestern Spain. The vehicle left the road and caught fire.
The siblings were travelling to Santander to board a ferry bound for England ahead of Liverpool's pre-season preparations.
Jota had married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso merely days before the tragedy.
Their funeral in Gondomar drew numerous footballing figures including Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Ruben Neves.
Diogo Jota's team-mates attended the funeral of the Liverpool star in the summer
| GETTYDespite winning the Nations League alongside Jota weeks earlier, Ronaldo was conspicuously absent.
However, he did attend a memorial ceremony in September alongside the Portugal squad, Jota's family and Portuguese officials.