Jesus Owono Breaks Silence as Mourinho and a Teammate Back Him

• Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono, 25, has spoken for the first time after the collision with Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel, who died on Tuesday, per the Daily Mail.
• Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho and Andorra defender Lautaro Spatz have both backed Owono in public.
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui says criminal proceedings are “very unlikely”.

Football Stands Beside a Goalkeeper Who Cannot Find the Words

Jesus Owono has broken his silence. The FC Andorra goalkeeper issued a statement through his club on Wednesday, two days after a collision with Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel in a Segunda Division match. De Miguel, 30, died on Tuesday morning. “These are being the most difficult days of my life,” Owono said. “I am struggling to find the words and find it very difficult to assimilate anything that has happened.” He added: “I feel an enormous pain for the loss of Jesús. I think of him, his family, and everyone who loved him.”

What Happened on Monday and Tuesday

The collision came in stoppage time on Monday. Owono was sent off, and De Miguel lay motionless while medical staff gave him urgent treatment. The match was abandoned with the score at 2-2. De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital, where his condition worsened overnight. Tenerife announced his death at 8:00 on Tuesday morning.

De Miguel was a father of one. He joined Tenerife from Castellon on a three-year deal in 2025 and scored 11 goals in 29 appearances as the club won promotion back to the Segunda Division. The club said: “We stand alongside his devastated family.” His family asked for respect for their privacy.

Owono’s own words looked ahead. “I know there will be many issues to address; I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect,” he said. Andorra added: “FC Andorra asks for the utmost sensitivity and respect.” The club held a minute’s silence at its training ground on Wednesday. Owono has also closed his Instagram account amid heavy backlash.

Mourinho, Spatz and Raphinha Respond

Mourinho sent Owono a message of support. The Real Madrid manager, who has defended Vinícius Júnior in public before, called it a “very, very, very difficult moment” for the goalkeeper. He added that the death shocks everyone, and that it hits harder for people in football who compete on the pitch every day.

Spatz, Andorra’s 25-year-old Argentinian defender, posted a tribute to De Miguel on Instagram and called the death “a tragedy that has left us completely broken, without words and with a sadness difficult to explain”. He then spoke up for his friend. “Those of us who know him know the type of person he is, how much he is suffering in these moments and that he would never intend to hurt anyone.”

The reaction spread well beyond the two clubs. Spain called off Tuesday’s domestic games, and the Spanish federation postponed that day’s Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina fixtures. Champions League matches went ahead. At the Nou Camp, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona held a minute’s silence before beating Aston Villa 3-0. Raphinha scored twice and then declined to talk about the game. “I want to send a lot of strength to the family of Jesus. Today I’m not going to talk about football,” he said.

The Investigation

Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter. That is standard practice under Spanish law, and the prosecutor Sanchez-Jauregui told the news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were “very unlikely”. Court officials explained that any death not resulting from natural causes triggers a judicial investigation. Police are also reviewing the emergency medical response on the pitch and in the ambulance transfer.

What Comes Next

Tenerife have declared six days of official mourning. Supporters have left tributes outside the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium in Santa Cruz, and a memorial service will be held at the ground on Saturday evening, with fans invited to attend.

For Owono, the days ahead are about the questions he says he will face. His club has asked for sensitivity, his teammate has vouched for his character, and Real Madrid’s manager has reached out to him. The first thing he chose to say publicly was a message of pain for De Miguel’s family.

WRITTEN BY

George Howson

George Howson is a Futbol Chronicle contributor and accredited journalist with over 20 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, George has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing deep knowledge and first-hand insight to every match report and analysis he writes.

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