Darwin Nunez mentioned he would all the time bear in mind Diogo Jota’s smile as he paid tribute to his Liverpool team-mate following his dying in a automotive crash on the age of 28.
Jota and his brother Andre Silva had been killed when their automotive got here off the A-52 motorway within the province of Zamora in north-western Spain. Regardless of emergency crews attending the scene, the pair had been declared lifeless.
Tributes have poured in for Jota and Silva, an attacking midfielder for Portuguese second-tier facet Penafiel, whereas Liverpool followers gathered at Anfield to pay their respects.
Nunez joined Liverpool in June 2022, slightly below two years after Jota, they usually every claimed Premier League glory with the Reds this previous season.
Jota had just lately married Rute Cardoso and leaves behind three kids.
In a submit on Instagram, Nunez despatched a heartfelt message to Jota’s younger household.
He wrote: “There aren’t any phrases to consolation you for a lot ache. I’ll all the time bear in mind you together with your smile, as a very good teammate on and off the sphere.
“I ship all my power to your loved ones, from the place I’m certain he’ll all the time be with you, particularly your spouse and three kids. RIP Diogo and Andre.”
Santos recollects Jota’s big ardour
Former Portugal coach Fernando Santos spoke to A Bola concerning his reminiscences of Jota, to whom he gave his debut for the nationwide group.
“At this level it’s even onerous to speak concerning the footballer, as a result of that’s not a very powerful factor,” Azerbaijan coach Santos mentioned.
“He debuted with me on the age of twenty-two. He was overshadowed by the perfect participant on the earth [Cristiano Ronaldo], however he all the time discovered his area.
“He had an enormous ardour for the nationwide group. He couldn’t go to the World Cup in Qatar as a result of he was injured, however he made some extent of becoming a member of us.
“He was with the group through the coaching camp and got here to our matches. That was his personal initiative.
“I visited him in Liverpool when he was injured. It was an advanced second for him, however I actually loved this dialog. Now I can solely take into consideration his household, his spouse and the three kids he leaves.”
Nuno Campos diminished to tears
Nuno Campos was certainly one of Jota’s first coaches when he made the grade as knowledgeable with Pacos de Ferreira.
Jota broke by in 2014, when Campos was working as an assistant at Pacos.
Now the top coach at Hungarian facet Zalaegerszeg, Campos was left extraordinarily emotional upon studying of the tragic information.
“I obtained the information this morning, once I was preparing for coaching, and I used to be in shock. I couldn’t maintain again the tears,” Campos informed Sportinforma.
“They [his players] requested what was occurring, they had been dismayed. This loss shakes us all, however me much more, as a result of I had a really shut relationship with Diogo.”
Remembering Jota’s ascension to the Pacos first group, Campos added: “He arrived from juniors and rapidly imposed himself for his humility, professionalism and willpower. He was a participant who conquered everybody, not just for his expertise, but additionally for the love and respect he confirmed for everybody.
“I bear in mind his smile, his intelligence on the sphere and his tireless dedication to succeed in the highest. Like Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota acquired the place he acquired by lots of work and energy.”
“It’s a ravishing household, and this loss is unimaginable to simply accept. It hurts rather a lot to speak about this. I wish to categorical my deepest sympathies to the entire household.”