Elliot, 19, went to Anfield to pay his respects just hours after the forward's death
Elliot Francis, 19, told the ECHO he would regularly speak to Jota at Anfield
Elliot Francis, 19, told the ECHO he would regularly speak to Jota at Anfield
A fan who claims to have spoken to Diogo Jota regularly paid tribute to the Portuguese forward at Anfield today following the news of his death. Jota was found dead alongside his brother, Andre Silva, following a crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday.
Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking. The 28-year-old was heading towards Benavente with his brother, who played for Portuguese club Penafiel in the second tier of the Portuguese football league.
As the news broke across the country, fans soon headed to Anfield to pay their respects and lay tributes to the fan favourite. Jota signed for the Reds in 2020 from fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He soon became adored by fans in Anfield as his own chant became an iconic song that rang around the stadium.
One of the fans present this morning was Elliot Francis.
The 19-year-old is a season ticket holder at Anfield and a self-proclaimed "massive fan" of Liverpool. He said he spoke to Jota every week after the match, adding that the Portuguese player used to come and stop to talk to him in the ground, as he was making his way off the pitch.
Elliot paid his respects at Anfield on Thursday
Elliot paid his respects at Anfield on Thursday
Elliot, from Dingle, arrived at Anfield wearing a match-worn shirt signed by Jota. He brought flowers to lay on the grass on 97 Avenue where fellow fans had made a makeshift shrine to the Portuguese international, with fans placing football shirts, scarves, flowers and balloons with Jota’s number on, saying that it was the least he could do.
He told the ECHO: "Jota was brilliant. He was everything we wanted from a Liverpool player. He was a real Scouser, he gave everything to us.
"This is a loss for everyone. It's devastating for his family. His song will forever be sung now."
Claire Roberts, 42, is a member of the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association who also brought flowers to Anfield today. She said she was "absolutely devastated".
She said: "Every season he just got better and better. Two weeks ago, he was married and now…I feel devastated. There’s not much we can do as a person, but we can come and show our respect."
Alongside Claire was her 16-year-old son Nathan, who said: "My heart goes out to everyone, all the players, his family, his parents…as a player he was unbelievable."
Callum Gunner, 18, was also among fans leaving tributes to Diogo Jota today. He brought flowers, a card and balloons with ‘YNWA’ written on them that he left on the grass in front of the stadium. He said Jota was "such a good, caring player".
The card he was carrying read: "No words other than heartbroken and emotional. Thank you and God Bless. Diogo Jota R.I.P."
Callum said he wanted to show up because "he played his part for us, so now we’re playing our part for him".