Liverpool forward Luis Diaz has spoken out for the first time after receiving backlash for not attending teammate Diogo Jota's funeral. Jota was sadly killed in a car accident in Spain and was laid to rest with his brother in Sao Cosme, where the striker and his wife Rute Cardoso had gotten married less than two weeks prior.
Several Anfield stars made the trip to just outside Porto to attend the funeral, including Virgil van Dijk and the club's manager Arne Slot. And while other big names such as Cristiano Ronaldo opted not to make an appearance, fans were left baffled by the fact that Diaz was also not in attendance. However, the Colombian has now commented on Jota's death for the first time since the criticism.
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The 40-year-old had explained to the Jota family why he hadn't attended before then receiving widespread backlash.
Diaz Discloses 'Very Big Pain' Following Jota's Passing
The 28-year-old spoke to the press about his emotions
Speaking to WinSportsTV, Diaz spoke in more detail about his emotions after learning of his teammate's death, stating:
"It's very difficult to receive news like this. No one is prepared for this, he was a key companion when I arrived in Liverpool because his family welcomed me and we formed a great friendship. We had a healthy rivalry and it was important."
Although Diaz did not explicitly address why he missed the funeral, it is believed that the reason is due to the fact that it came shortly after travelling to his homeland.
Diaz also reminisced on Jota's act of support during one of the darkest periods of his career. Back in October 2023, the former Porto winger's father was kidnapped and held hostage for 12 days before being reunited. During this ordeal, Jota showed public support for his attacking partner, celebrating a goal against Nottingham Forest by lifting a jersey with Diaz's name on the back.
The forward spoke of that moment while discussing the pain he felt over Jota's untimely death, saying: "He made a very nice gesture towards me, which I will never forget.
"May he rest in peace. I have a great friend in my heart, who will always be remembered by his team. I want to send a lot of strength to his family, his wife, his children, because the truth is that they are suffering a lot with this.
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"(It hurts) a lot, a lot. It was incredible when I woke up and saw the news. The truth is I broke down in tears. It was a very, very, very big pain."