The football world is in mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash alongside his brother, Andre Silva, on Thursday morning. The accident occurred on the A52 highway near Zamora, Spain, reportedly caused by a tire blowout that led to their vehicle veering off the road.
News of Jota's death has sent shockwaves through Liverpool Football Club and the wider football community. Tributes have poured in from around the globe, with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo among those expressing their condolences.
Mohamed Salah, Jota's teammate at Liverpool, has publicly shared his devastation and admitted feeling apprehensive about returning to the club following this tragedy. In a heartfelt message posted on social media, Salah confessed to being "truly lost for words" and stated that he "never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break". He acknowledged the difficulty of accepting Jota's absence and extended his thoughts to Jota's wife, children, and parents, as well as those close to both Diogo and Andre.
Salah and Jota shared a close bond, having played together in 151 matches for Liverpool. Their on-field partnership was fruitful, with Salah assisting on 13 of Jota's 65 goals for the club. Jota, who joined Liverpool in 2020, made 182 appearances and was an integral part of the team that secured the Premier League title last season, along with winning the FA Cup and two League Cups.
Liverpool has postponed the return of some players for pre-season training, initially scheduled to begin on Friday, July 4th. The club is expected to allow players to travel to Portugal to attend Jota's funeral, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 5th, in Gondomar.
The loss of Diogo Jota is a profound blow to Liverpool and the footballing world. His contributions on the pitch and his character off the pitch will be deeply missed. The outpouring of grief and support highlights the impact he had on his teammates, the club, and the wider community. As Mohamed Salah poignantly expressed, Jota's memory will never be forgotten.
