A Portuguese tabloid sparked controversy by claiming Ruben Neves was in a relationship with Rute Cardoso, the widow of Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in July. TV Guia published a photo of the pair under the headline “United by death”, fueling speculation across social media.
The Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves quickly denied the story on Instagram. “My wife, Debora, and I have been together for 11 years, happy, with a family I’m proud of. Never have we been involved in any controversy. We simply tried to help Rute and her family as best we could,” he wrote.
Neves condemned the magazine’s lack of respect but praised Rute for her resilience: “We are proud of her strength and we will always be there for her.”
Extremely close to Jota, Neves carried his friend’s coffin, got a tattoo in his memory, and inherited his No. 21 jersey with Portugal. He made clear his loyalty lies with his wife and family, while honoring the bond with his late teammate.
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