Barcelona president Joan Laporta has paid tribute to Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel, who died aged 30 after suffering a cardiac emergency during a Spanish second-tier match against Andorra.
Laporta expressed his deep sadness at the player’s death and offered Barcelona’s condolences to his family, team-mates, Tenerife and the club’s supporters.
The Barcelona president made the comments at a lunch attended by representatives of both clubs before their Champions League meeting at Spotify Camp Nou. The event was held at the Via Veneto restaurant on the day of the match.
Laporta traditionally uses the pre-match lunch to discuss the strength of Barcelona’s opponents or send pointed messages towards Real Madrid. However, he set aside that routine because of the death of De Miguel.
“We are deeply shocked by the death of Jesus de Miguel, the Tenerife player,” Laporta said. “It was a tragic event and, as president of Barcelona and representing the club, I offer our deepest condolences to his family, his team-mates, Tenerife and its supporters.
“It was extremely shocking. We remember him as an athlete and send our respects to his family.”
Laporta attended the lunch alongside vice-president for sporting affairs Rafa Yuste, vice-president for institutional affairs Elena Fort and board member Mikel Camps.
He also confirmed that Barcelona and Aston Villa’s match would begin with a minute’s silence in memory of De Miguel. The same tribute will take place before the other matches organised by UEFA.
The silence at Spotify Camp Nou will also honour the victims of a tragic train accident in Oerda, in the province of Toledo.
Aston Villa football director Roberto Olabe joined Laporta in expressing his condolences. He attended the lunch with the English club’s director of football operations, Damia Vidagany.
“You can imagine the state we are all in,” Olabe said. “We have absolute respect for the player’s family and his club. It is a tragedy by every measure.
“There are things that cannot be controlled. Honestly, what happened is part of the events of the game.”
