Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken about the tragic death of his son Angel and how the support of the Royal Family, rival fans and partner Georgina Rodriguez helped him make the difficult return to football.
The Portugal captain and partner Georgina Rodriguez, 28, tragically revealed that their newborn son, named Angel, had died during birth on April 18, but his twin daughter Bella survived.
It led to an outpouring of support from inside and outside the game and Liverpool fans sang on the seventh minute of their next game, 'You'll Never Walk Alone.'
He also received a letter from the Royal Family.
Ronaldo: 'I never ever expect that. Never. I have the opportunity now to say, all English community, thank you a lot for that, kind of that they held with me. Not only Liverpool, but all England.
'I received a letter from The Queen's family as well … And, surprised me a lot…
'This is why I say, I respect a lot, the English community, English people, because they've been very kind with me. And in that difficult moment of my life… [the support] was spectacular.
'The way they treat me, me and my family in that difficult moment, I should say straight to the camera thank you, 'Thank you, to the all English community that helped me in that moment'.'
Ronaldo spoke about the harrowing moment of returning from the hospital with his partner Georgina to explain to his older children what had happened.
'In the beginning. Gio are arriving home and the kids start to say where's the other baby? Where's the other baby?
'Of course Cristiano [his eldest son], I had a conversation with him in the day, because he's 12 years old, he knows, understands everything, and I had a nice conversation with him. We cried together in his bedroom and explained and it's kind of - he doesn't understand, he does understand, but in same way he was a little bit confused.
'The other ones in the beginning, on the table, the kids start to say 'Mom where is the other baby bla bla bla - and you in the beginning they start to say because, you know, she had a little bit of a belly because they had two, it's a hard process. And after one week I say, 'Let's be up front and let's be honest with the kids, let's say that, Angel, which is the name, they go to the Heaven'.
'It's better to say in that way and we start to use that in that way. And the kids always understand, when we had shouts in at the table and they say 'daddy I did this for Angel' and they point out for the, for the sky… I like it the most because, you know it's part of their lives and I am not gonna lie to my kids to say the true, which is it was a difficult process but in the same way, I become more more father, more friendly with them; they become more close to their Daddy especially me with the Georgina as well.'
laziknotuy
15
Respect and strength to you the best player to have ever graced the pitch. I like your family life man