Angela Rayner said Liverpool striker's death had "really shook the city and the world"
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner speaking outside Anfield
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has offered her condolences following the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota. On a visit to Everton Stadium this morning, Ms Rayner said the news had “really shook the city” and paid tribute to people coming together to offer their support for the player’s wife and children.
The 28-year-old was travelling with his brother, Andre Silva, in the Zamora region of Sanabria when the incident occurred. According to the Zamora provincial council, firefighters attended the scene on the A52, known as the Palacios de Sanabria, after the vehicle caught fire.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 1am on Thursday morning, with the vehicle heading towards nearby Benavente. Local reports have claimed the accident was the result of a blown-out tyre.
Ms Rayner said: “It's absolutely horrendous to hear what's happened to Diogo Jota and his brother overnight. It's really shook the city and the world as they wake up and they've heard this news and tragically having such a young family and has just had their wedding as well, not so long ago.
“My heart goes out to his wife, his children, and his friends and family. I think the whole of Liverpool, being here in Liverpool today as well, as we heard this news, you can see the Liverpool family coming together. I can already sense the feeling of coming together and being there for his family and his wife and his children.”
Tributes have been flooding in for Diogo Jota
Tributes have been flooding in for Diogo Jota, and now you can add yours.
The Portugal international married long-time partner Rute Cardoso on June 22, with whom he had three children. Jota signed for Liverpool from Wolves in September 2020.
His brother, who is two years younger, was a professional for Portuguese second-tier team Penafiel.
Further tributes were paid by lifelong Liverpool fan, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram. He said: “The first thing when you get all the news is that you go into some sort of like disbelief and then the second thing that hits you is that, wow, what a loss, not just to obviously lose one son but to lose two sons as a family.
Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
“It's a terrible tragedy that I think the football world will come together to recognise.”
Mr Rotheram added how LFC fans had taken the player to their hearts in his near five years at the club.
He said: “When he was playing, when he was fit, he was getting regular games and then even when he came back into the team and was only sometimes a substitute, the fans always sang his song, so he's somebody the fans really took to their hearts and love and loved him as a footballer and it's just an unfathomable, isn't it, to think that he won't be there next year.”