Laporta sets aside pre-match tradition to pay tribute to Tenerife striker

Barcelona president Joan Laporta abandoned his usual pre-match remarks to honour Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel, who died aged 30 after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Spanish second-division match against Andorra.

Laporta expressed his deep sadness over the player’s death and said the incident had been both shocking and deeply affecting. According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, he offered Barcelona’s condolences to De Miguel’s family, team-mates, Tenerife and the club’s supporters.

Laporta traditionally uses the directors’ lunch before Barcelona matches to talk up the strength of the contest ahead or send provocative messages to Real Madrid. However, he chose not to follow that routine before Barcelona’s meeting with Aston Villa in the Champions League.

Speaking at the lunch between the two clubs’ representatives at Via Veneto restaurant, Laporta said: “We are deeply shocked by the death of Jesus de Miguel, a Tenerife player. It was a tragic event and, as president of Barcelona and representative of the club, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to his family, his team-mates, Tenerife and its supporters.

“It has been extremely shocking. We remember him as a sportsman and send our respects to his family.”

The lunch took place ahead of the match between Barcelona and Aston Villa at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday evening. Laporta was accompanied by vice-president for sporting affairs Rafa Yuste, institutional vice-president Elena Fort and board member Miquel Camps.

A minute’s silence will be held before kick-off in memory of De Miguel. UEFA will apply the same tribute at the other matches it organises.

The silence at Spotify Camp Nou will also honour the victims of the tragic train accident in Orda, in the province of Toledo.

Aston Villa football director Roberto Olabe also shared the mourning. He attended the lunch alongside the English club’s director of football operations, Damia Vidagany.

“You can imagine the situation we are all experiencing,” 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.”