Jurgen Klopp regarded Jota as a “perfect signing” for the club.
Jurgen Klopp says he is “heartbroken” by Diogo Jota’s unexpected death in a car accident.
The 28-year-old and his younger brother Andre, who played for Portuguese second-tier club Penafiel, were killed in a car accident on Thursday early at 00:30 local time in Zamora, northwest Spain.
The Guardia Civil in Zamora reported that their Lamborghini abandoned the road owing to a tyre blowout when overtaking another vehicle and subsequently caught fire on the A-52 near Cernadilla, just ten kilometres from Portugal.
According to reports in Portugal, the siblings were on their way to Santander to catch a ferry to England after Diogo was told not to fly due to lung operations.
Rui Loura, CNN Portugal’s sports editor, provided an insight into Jota’s journey on television. “He had lung surgery and was advised not to fly after that,” he told the Daily Mail.
Loura added: “He was on his way to the northern Spanish port city of Santander to pass by ferry and reach the UK that way, then continue with the automobile once in Britain. He was on the way to Liverpool with his brother.”
The terrible news came only 11 days after Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in Porto.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp took to social media on Thursday to pay an emotional homage to Diogo and his brother Andre, sending his thoughts and prayers to Cardoso and the rest of the family.
“This is a difficult moment for me!” he posted on Instagram. “There must be a larger purpose! But I cannot see it! I am devastated to learn about Diogo and his brother André’s deaths. Diogo was not only an excellent athlete, but also a wonderful friend, a kind and caring husband and parent.”
Klopp added, “We will miss you very much! All of my prayers, thoughts, and strength go out to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends, and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace, Love J.”
xz
