Diogo Jota was in a ‘happy moment’ before his tragic death, according to one of the last people to speak to the Liverpool star.
Jota 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 26, were killed in a car crash in the northwest of Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The Lamborghini the brothers were travelling in was forced off the road after a tyre blowout, bursting into flames with the two men still inside.
A wake for the brothers is taking place in Jota’s hometown of Gondomar, 16km east of Porto, this morning with a funeral to be held on Saturday.
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Before starring in the Premier League for Wolves and Liverpool, Jota began his football career at local club Gondomar SC.
The Portugal international played for the club between the ages of nine and 17, with their academy named after its most famous graduate in 2022.
Club president Álvaro Cerqueira has remained in frequent contact with Jota over the years and revealed he spoke to the footballer just before yesterday’s fatal accident.
‘It was just after 10 pm last night, we were on the phone and he was fine,’ Cerqueira told Jornal de Noticias.
‘We spoke almost every week and I know I was going through a happy moment.’
Jota’s brother Andre also played for the local side and signed his first professional contract with Gondomar in 2021, playing for two seasons before he was signed by Penafiel.
The two would often return home and visit their old club and to keep themselves in top condition during the summer break.
‘When Diogo needed to train during the off-season, he asked to come here and we always made everything available. His brother usually came too and they would both work,’ Cerqueira said.
‘It is difficult to talk at a time like this, but what will remain is the image of two very humble people, who leave a huge void.’
Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, the mother to his three children, 12 days ago.
The couple had been in a relationship since 2012, and are childhood sweethearts, having attended the same high school together in Porto.
Cardoso was regularly seen in the stands watching Jota player, documenting her travels following him play for both club and country.
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