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CRISTIANO Ronaldo has sent gifts to all of his Portugal team-mates who won the Nations League with him earlier this summer – even the late Diogo Jota.
The Liverpool forward was just 28 when he died in a car accident in July – just a couple of weeks after winning the Nations League with his country.
SIC journalist Nuno Luz revealed on Portuguese TV this Monday that Ronaldo, the captain of the Portuguese national team, commissioned watches from the luxury brand Jacob and Co and had them delivered to his team-mates for the first World Cup qualifying match against Armenia.
Like the rest of the squad who beat Spain on penalties in the final, Jota had a watch bearing his name and number ordered and Ronaldo sent it to his family.
Luz said: “These are details that are done without publicity and that show the genuine way Cristiano Ronaldo is. Often, people on the outside have an image of him that doesn’t correspond to reality.”
The watchmakers have shown off on social media exactly what the designs look like, with only 35 in existence.
Jacob & Co said:“ A skeleton dial, custom design and the Portuguese coat of arms — a watch as exceptional as the champions themselves.”
Although the official pricing has not been confirmed, a quick Google search will tell you Jacob & Co watches go for dozens of thousands of pounds, let alone personalised ones like these.
Ronaldo earns around £200m a year with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia so he can afford it.
When Jota died, his funeral was on the Saturday just days later in Portugal with many of his Liverpool and national team-mates in attendance, but much was made of Ronaldo’s absence at the time.
Speaking to Piers Morgan, Ronaldo cleared up the situation, insisting he didn’t want to make the occasion all about him.
He said: “Two things. People criticise me a lot. I don’t care about that. When your conscience is good and free, you don’t have to worry about what people say.
“But one of the things I don’t do? After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again.
“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.
“I don’t like it when you go to a sensitive moment to do interviews, to speak about him, to speak about football.
“This shows how a circus is life, sometimes. I am not a part of that. If you want to be a part of this world, good luck, but I will be a part of another side.
“People can continue to criticise. I felt good with my decision.”
Despite his decision, Ronaldo did confirm he reached out to Jota’s family at the time.
