Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Diogo Jota, Liverpool
Ryan Smart
Diogo Jota spoke to a close friend on the phone hours before the car crash that killed him and his brother Andre Silva, it has been revealed.
The car crash happened in the early hours of Thursday morning in Zamora, northwestern Spain.
According to initial police findings, the car - which was a Lamborghini - suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking on the A52 road.
It then caught fire and, as per witnesses who called the emergency 1-1-2 service, was soon 'engulfed in flames'.
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The Spanish Guardia Civil released a statement confirming that the two victims had been identified as Liverpool star Jota and his brother, who played for Portuguese second tier side Penafiel.
It was later reported that the pair were travelling to Santander to catch a ferry to England, with Jota - who married long-term partner Rute Cardoso on June 22 - having been advised against flying because he had undergone recent lung surgery.
Tributes have since flooded in for the pair from the footballing world and beyond.
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Liverpool manager Arne Slot penned an emotional statement on Thursday evening, with captain Virgil van Dijk among the Reds players to do likewise.
Jota was born near Gondomar, Porto, which is where his funeral will take place on Saturday morning.
He played for local club Gondomar SC from the age of 17, before leaving for fellow Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira in 2013.
Gondomar president Alvaro Cerqueira has now revealed that he spoke to Jota at 10pm - under three hours before the crash - and recounted small details of their conversation.
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"It was just after 10pm last night [Thursday]," he told Portuguese outlet JN. "We were on the phone and he was fine.
"We spoke almost every week, and I know he was going through a happy moment.
"When Diogo needed to train during the off-season, he would ask to come here, and we would always make everything available.
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"His brother would usually come too, and they would both train.
"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."
Gondomar will hold a day of mourning for Jota and Silva on Friday, with the Municipality's flag being displayed at half-mast on all buildings and facilities.
The town's mayor, Luis Filipe Araujo described Jota as 'an extraordinary talent and a true ambassador of Gondomar'.
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He added: [He stood out for taking] the name of the municipality and of Portugal to the biggest stages of European and world football, always with humility, dedication and an enormous sense of responsibility."