Diogo Jota crashed as he headed to Santander to catch a ferry to the UK after being advised not to fly following lung surgery, it was reported today.
CNN Portugal said medics told the Liverpool star he shouldn’t catch a plane after the surgery.
The 28-year-old died in a car crash on Thursday morning with his brother Andre Silva, 26, in the Spanish province of Zamora at around 00:30 local time.
The channel’s sports editor Rui Laura said today live on air: “The surgery he had had was lung surgery and he had been advised against flying following this.
“He was on his way to the northern Spanish port city of Santander to cross the ferry and reach the UK that way and carry on with the car once he reached Britain.
Diogo Jota pictured with his brother Andre Silva and wife, Rute Cardoso
Diogo Jota pictured with his brother Andre Silva and wife, Rute Cardoso (Image: Diogo Jota Instagram)
“He was on his way to Liverpool with his brother.”
Another Portuguese journalist, Victor Pinto told the country’s CMTV channel: “Diogo Jota sometimes chose to travel by road because he had some pulmonary discomfort, nothing serious, and as we know, there is a ferry boat that connects the south of England to Spain’s Cantabria region.
"The information we have is that he was going to take a ferry to Santander, so this means it wasn't exactly a road trip from England to Portugal.
“In this case, Diogo Jota would have made the ferry trip with his brother.”
The wreckage from the car crash involving Liverpool star Diogo Jota
The wreckage from the car crash involving Liverpool star Diogo Jota
Police said that the car they were travelling in - a Lamborghini - left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle. Their car then caught fire.
According to El Pais, the fire damage to the bodies prevented the necessary tests from being carried out to confirm beyond any doubt that the two victims were the Liverpool star and his brother.
The tragic accident comes just 11 days after Jota married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso. His last Instagram post was a video montage of their special day, which involved their three children.