The heartbreaking last text Diogo Jota's widow sent to him before the crash which claimed his life has been disclosed in a new book.
Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a fatal crash in Zamora northwestern Spain in July. The pair were travelling to Santander when the green Lamborghini Huracan Jota had rented suffered a tyre blowout while attempting an overtake and became engulfed in flames.
The late Liverpool star was on a journey back to Merseyside, having been advised by doctors to not travel via plane after undergoing lung surgery. Both were pronounced dead at the scenes by the emergency services
Just 11 days before his tragic death, Jota married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso at a church in their hometown of Porto, Portugal.
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The pair had three children together and widow Rute is remembering the love of her life in a new biography called 'Nunca Mais e Muito Tempo' - which translates to 'Never Again Is a Long Time' in English.
The book, written by former player Jose Manuel Delgado, is to be published on April 19 and includes the very last text from Rute that Jota never received. Heartbreakingly, it was about their wedding video which she had received.
Having read the excerpt, TV presenter Isabel Figueira shared details on Portuguese TV, saying: "What shook me the most when reading an excerpt from the book is the way Rute narrates the last messages she sends him, which Diogo never receives.
"She says she had just received the wedding video and she says 'Love, when you stop, call me, because I have something here to show you,' and it was this video."
Jota's last very Instagram post was a video from his wedding just hours before his death.
The book also includes the brothers' parents Joaquim and Isabel recalling their discovery of what had happened, while Arne Slot, Jurgen Klopp, Virgill van Dijk, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva Fernando Santos and Roberto Martinez were among the 90 testimonies provided.
An online preview from publisher Cultura Editors said the book "reveals the human journey of a figure who marked a generation" as well as "the human and professional impact of Diogo Jota on and off the field".
It also "seeks to give meaning to the loss".
Jota's No.20 was retired by Liverpool after his passing. The club's supporters regularly give a minute of applause in the 20th minute of games to commemorate Jota, who scored 65 goals and won four trophies with the Reds.
Rute and her three children have since moved back to Gondomar near Porto.
Topics: Diogo Jota, Liverpool, Portugal
Josh Lawless