Former Wolves star Dave Edwards has paid a touching tribute to Diogo Jota, having admitted no player left him as shocked with their ability as Liverpool’s sadly departed No. 20.
Tributes continue to pour in for Jota following his death at the age of 28 last week. The forward and his brother Andre Silva were both killed in a car accident in Spain as they made their way to catch a ferry, with Jota on his way back to Liverpool.
The brothers’ funeral was held in their hometown of Gondomar in Portugal on Saturday, with the majority of the Reds’ squad and head coach Arne Slot in attendance to pay their respects.
Liverpool’s players have now begun to return to training, with players reporting for the first session of their pre-season schedule on Tuesday after their initial return on Friday was delayed.
Tributes continue to be left at Anfield and at the club’s AXA Training Ground, as well as at Molineux, where Jota plied his trade before joining Liverpool in 2020.
It was at Wolves that Jota briefly came into contact with Edwards, who had become a club legend by the time the Portuguese star arrived on an initial loan spell in 2017.
“I remember when he first came to Wolves, I was only with him for just over a month, and he was polite, softly spoken, but he had a quiet confidence about him as well in the way he handled himself. A lovely, lovely boy,” Edwards told the Shropshire Star.
Diogo Jota joined Wolves in 2017 and helped the club to promotion to the Premier League
Diogo Jota joined Wolves in 2017 and helped the club to promotion to the Premier League (Image: Getty Images)
“I was really mesmerized with his football ability. I'd been at Wolves for a long time before Diogo came through the door and he's the one player which shocked me the most so early on.
“He came at a time when Wolves were signing so many amazing players but Diogo was the one that really stood out. The way he played was so childlike, but in a good way.
“He played with this enthusiasm and tenacity. In every training drill we did he played with a hunger to win and did it without all the modern-day tricks and flicks.”
Edwards added: "He embodied everything that you would want as a supporter. Everyone can work hard and have the passion and desire - Diogo did all of that - but not everyone had the quality he had to match."
Former Wolves captain Dave Edwards with Ruben Neves during their together at the club
Former Wolves captain Dave Edwards with Ruben Neves during their together at the club (Image: Getty Images)
Edwards continued: "He was always destined for the top, and I was delighted to see him go on and have success at Liverpool. To win the Premier League is an amazing achievement
"He was a brilliant footballer but people that knew him better than me compliment what a wonderful person he was."
Edwards’ tribute echoes the countless memories Jota’s other former teammates have shared over the last few days, with Liverpool’s players now facing the difficult task of returning to training ahead of a busy preseason schedule.
The Reds are set to play their first friendly against Preston on Sunday, although a decision on whether the game will go ahead will only be made once Liverpool’s players have been consulted.