Arne Slot releases heartfelt statement following tragic death of Diogo Jota
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has released a statement following the death of Diogo Jota.
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in northwestern Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning (July 3).
The Guardia Civil confirmed the news to BBC Sport while reports claim they were travelling in a vehicle which caught fire before flames spread to the vegetation, as per the Zamora Provincial Council.
"Two young people die in an accident on the A-52 (Palacios de Sanabria),” a statement from the Council read.
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"The Rionegro del Puente Fire Station (Northern Zone of the @DiputacionZA Consortium) responded.
"The vehicle caught fire, and the flames spread to the vegetation.
"They were 28 and 26 years old. RIP."
Jota’s passing came just ten days after he married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso.
Tributes quickly poured in from all of his former clubs - Porto, Wolves, Atletico Madrid and Pacos de Ferreira - as Liverpool also released a statement.
Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher and ex-head coach Jurgen Klopp joined in with the tributes, with Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo also publishing a statement on social media.
Then, at around 6:10 pm, Liverpool FC released a statement on behalf of Slot.
Slot wrote: “What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not.
“All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.
“My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.
"My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.”
Klopp, who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020, said he was left "heartbroken" by the news in an Instagram post and hailed the former Porto academy product as "a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father!".
He also offered his prayers to Rute and the rest of the family.
Jota scored 65 goals in all competitions for Liverpool and after winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, helped the Reds win their 20th league title in Slot's first campaign.
His final career goal was the winner in the Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield.
A minute's silence will be held for Jota when Portugal take on Spain in the women's European Championship, after a request was granted by UEFA.
Topics: Diogo Jota, Arne Slot, Football, Premier League
Luke Davies