A friend of the Spanish footballer who died after a horror tackle this week has spoken of the heartbreak of the late sportsman’s girlfriend, who had been watching the game with their one-year-old daughter.
Tenerife striker Jesus De Miguel, 30, died on Tuesday morning hours after receiving a flying knee to the chest from Andorra FC goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who was sent off before the match in Spain’s second division was abandoned.
His close friend Fernando Roman offered a tribute on social media and in an interview with Vamos a Ver.
Roman, who plays for Spanish side Talavera, explained that he had not been watching the match on Monday, but was alerted to it by his girlfriend after De Miguel had been injured by the tackle.
Roman had then been in contact with De Miguel’s girlfriend Maria, who had been at the stadium with their one-year-old daughter Carla. Roman revealed she had been alone at the hospital and has been hit ‘very hard’ by the tragedy.
She was eventually joined by the De Miguel’s parents, who travelled to Tenerife after being informed their son was in intensive care.
Close friend Fernando Roman (left) has revealed Jesus De Miguel’s girlfriend Maria had been alone in hospital prior to de Miguel’s death on Tuesday. Source: X/@ferroman9
A neighbour has said De Miguel’s father (pictured right, with his mother, girlfriend and sister R-L) burst into tears after seeing the impact of the collision on television. (Source: Instagram/martitamig)
De Miguel died on Tuesday morning following a horrifying clash with Andorra FC goalkeeper Jesus Owono in a Spanish second division match
A neighbour of De Miguel’s parents in Navahermosa told Y ahora Sonsoles that his father ‘started crying’ as soon as he saw the impact of the collision on television at his bar and immediately gathered his family to travel to Tenerife.
Roman told Vamos a Ver: ‘Yesterday, my girlfriend and I were talking all afternoon and all night with María, his girlfriend, who was alone in the hospital.
‘I’ve spoken with his girlfriend, and you can imagine how she is. Now we have to be with the family.
‘We have to send our love to his family, to María, to his daughter Carla, who is a year and a few months old.
‘It was unbelievable because we were talking about traveling to Disney with the girls, with my daughter too, and look what’s happened.’
Roman also shared a letter on social media in tribute to De Miguel, reflecting on their friendship and stating he had ‘brought happiness to everyone’.
‘My friend… I can’t believe you’re gone… you have no idea how much I’m going to miss you. I didn’t just consider you a friend; I considered you a member of my own family,’ Roman wrote.
‘You were always there to help me when I was struggling—you were by my side during my worst moments.
‘Many people didn’t truly know you, but having known you, I can say you were one of the best people I’ve ever had in my life: humble, hardworking, never one to look for trouble. You brought happiness to everyone around you, and above all, you were a truly good person.
The striker was struck in the chest by Owono’s flying knee as he attempted to clear the ball near the halfway line
De Miguel was stretchered off the field following the collision with Owono
‘All the moments we shared keep coming to mind… that trip to Punta Cana with the four of us – a trip I will never forget… all the lunches and dinners we enjoyed together, the time we spent with our daughters, the escape rooms we both loved so much…
‘Tamara and I are absolutely devastated right now, but we know that from up above, you’ll still be with us—and, most importantly, with your daughter, with María, and with your entire family.
‘My friend, I’m going to miss you so much… I love you dearly! REST IN PEACE!!’
Police investigating De Miguel’s death are now probing the emergency medical response as well as the possibility rival goalie Jesus Owono’s horror tackle could be involuntary manslaughter.
It emerged yesterday homicide squad officers based in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz had launched a probe as court officials explained any death ‘not resulting from natural causes’ automatically triggers a judicial investigation.
Legal experts have said they don’t expect the ongoing investigation to lead to criminal charges against Andorra FC goalkeeper Owono because the clash occurred during open play, although he is expected to be hit with a lengthy ban.
The 30-year-old father-of-one died on Tuesday morning at Nuestra Senora Candelaria University Hospital after his second-division club revealed his neurological condition had worsened.
Medical personnel involved in the footballer’s care are expected to be questioned and detectives will sift through medical reports as part of the probe.
Police investigating the death of CD Tenerife footballer Jesus De Miguel are probing the emergency medical response
Legal experts have said they don’t expect the ongoing investigation to lead to criminal charges against Andorra FC goalkeeper Owono
Equatorial Guinea international Owono, who has lived in Spain since he was eight, was red-carded for kneeing Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel in the chest near the halfway line late into stoppage time. The match was suspended when the two sides were drawing 2-2.
De Miguel, whose partner Maria and one-year-old daughter Carla were watching from the stands, was reportedly revived by paramedics on the pitch after going into cardiac arrest before being rushed to hospital.
His club confirmed around 9.30am local time yesterday morning he had died at a hospital in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz about 8am, saying they were ‘heartbroken’ and had a ‘lump in their throats’.
It said in a statement, after revealing earlier the footballer’s neurological condition had worsened: ‘Heartbroken, with a lump in our throats, and unable to believe this is true, CD Tenerife announces the tragic passing of Jesus de Miguel Alameda, which occurred this Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 8am.
‘There are no words of comfort, there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this profound sense of sorrow.
‘We stand with his devastated family, his loved ones, and the entire ‘tinerfeñismo’ community, who today mourn this cruel outcome.
‘Jesus de Miguel’s family expresses their gratitude for every single gesture of support received, and they also earnestly request the utmost respect for their privacy during these terrible times.’
Owono is reportedly seeking to apologise to De Miguel’s family before making any kind of public statement.
FC Andorra, reacting to news of the Tenerife striker’s death in hospital, said yesterday morning: ‘Heartbroken and devastated, we wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jesus de Miguel, all his colleagues and friends, and to CD Tenerife.
‘May he rest in peace.’
