'We have lost someone truly irreplaceable'
Diogo Jota(Image: PA)
Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have confirmed that Liverpool Football Club are looking to honour Diogo Jota with ‘meaningful tributes’ after the Portuguese died aged 28 in a car crash on Thursday morning (July 3). The forward was killed, along with his brother, Andre Silva, after their vehicle veered off the road when travelling in the Zamora region of Sanabria.
It is understood the vehicle suffered a tyre blowout when heading towards Benavente, with Zamora News reporting that emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 1am on Thursday morning.
According to the Zamora provincial council, firefighters attended the scene on the A52, known as the Palacios de Sanabria, after the Lamborghini the pair were travelling in caught fire. Police said the accident happened at 12.30am.
Edwards, who is club owners’ Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of Football, signed Jota in his previous role as Liverpool sporting director back in September 2020, with the Reds signing the forward in a deal worth up to £45m from Wolves.
Tributes at Anfield(Image: PA)
And in a statement released on behalf of Edwards and current Reds sporting director Hughes, the pair addressed the heartbreaking grief that the club and Jota’s loved ones are suffering as they confirmed plans to honour the forward, reports The Echo.
Released on the club website, it read: “There is nothing that we can say in this moment to ease the pain of such a devastating tragedy. We all feel utterly bereft right now. In such heartbreaking circumstances, it is our responsibility to acknowledge the collective grief we are experiencing, to pay tribute to our Diogo, and to offer unwavering support to his family who remain our absolute priority at this time.
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"Diogo’s wife, Rute, their three beautiful children, his parents and wider family are facing an unimaginable loss. This tragic accident has taken not only Diogo, but also his brother, Andre Silva. We mourn them both equally. We must respect the family’s privacy and give them the space to grieve in whichever way they need.
"Of course, we – his Liverpool family – are also struggling to come to terms with what has happened. As his teammates, friends and colleagues, we are consumed by shock and sorrow. We know our supporters, his national team, former clubs and teammates and the wider football community share in this grief. This is a tragedy that transcends Liverpool Football Club.
"In the coming days, we as a club will look to honour our beloved number 20 with the respect and affection he so richly deserves. We will strive to make these tributes meaningful and inclusive of our supporters, to whom Diogo meant so much.
"For now, we express a love that is filled with deep sorrow and pain. We have lost someone truly irreplaceable. Rest in peace, Diogo. YNWA”.