Jurgen Klopp has paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota after the Liverpool forward was tragically killed in a car accident in Spain. Jota, 28, was travelling in a vehicle on the A-52 highway in the province of Zamora when it went off the road, causing a fire. Local police said the incident was caused by a tyre blowout which occurred while the vehicle was overtaking another car.
It came just two weeks after Jota tied the knot with his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, in a lavish wedding ceremony in Portugal. His younger brother Andre, 26, was also killed in the accident. Plenty of tributes have been flooding in since Liverpool confirmed the news of Jota's death, with Klopp penning an heartfelt statement on social media.
Taking to Instagram, the former Reds manager said: "This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!
"I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father!
"We will miss you so much! All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace."
Klopp was the manager who brought Jota to Liverpool and was a huge fan of the player's talents. Even though he often played second fiddle to the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, his extraordinary skill and influence did not go unnoticed.
Speaking in 2023, Klopp said: "Diogo is a very smart footballer. He understands the game really well. He understands it on a different level, he sees situations slightly earlier to adapt quicker, he's both-footed and a great finisher."
Two years earlier, the German hailed Jota as an 'exceptional boy' after he scored an impressive brace against Southampton.
"He has everything that a Liverpool player in this squad needs," gushed Klopp. "He has the technical skills, he has the physical skills and he is very smart and can learn all the tactical stuff pretty quick.
"On top of that, he can play all three positions; in a 4-2-3-1 he could play as the 10, so it is very helpful. He has the speed, has the desire to finish situations off really good. I think his goalscoring record is pretty impressive."
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