When Luis Diaz woke up to the news of Diogo Jota’s death, his world shifted in an instant.
The forward had never expected to face that kind of heartbreak, especially not over someone who played such an important role in his life on and off the pitch.
The tragedy sent shockwaves through Liverpool’s dressing room, but for Diaz, it felt personal.
Jota had been more than a teammate, he was a friend who welcomed him into the club when he needed it most.
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How Jota’s kindness shaped Diaz’s Liverpool journey
Speaking to Win Sports in Colombia ahead of Jota’s funeral, Diaz opened up about the pain he felt when he learned what had happened.
“It’s very hard to find out about news like that,” Diaz said.
“The first thing you do when you wake up is look at the news, which is very sad because of what happened, honestly.”
He explained how Jota’s warmth helped him settle when he arrived in Liverpool, and how they quickly grew close.
“A team-mate, instrumental in my arrival in Liverpool because his family welcomed me, he welcomed me and we became great friends.” he said.
“We had a great, healthy rivalry and he was important. We always agree on many things.”
Diaz didn’t hide how much it hurt to know that Jota, just weeks after celebrating a Premier League title and his wedding, was gone.
“I just want to give a lot of strength to his family, to his wife, to his children that he left behind. Because the truth is they must be suffering a lot from this terrible news.” he continued.
“It was incredible when I woke up and saw the news. The truth is I broke down in tears. It was a very, very big pain.”
He also shared a memory that showed how much Jota cared for those around him.
When Diaz’s parents were kidnapped in 2023, Jota scored against Nottingham Forest and held up Diaz’s shirt in solidarity.
That simple gesture stayed with Diaz, proof of the bond they shared.
For Diaz and many others, Jota’s absence leaves an ache that will never fully fade.
But his kindness, his spirit and the memories he created will always stay close.
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