Late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota held a private phone call just hours before his tragic death. Jota died in the early hours of 3rd July after crashing his Lamborghini Huracan, with his brother Andre Silva, who was in the passenger seat, also killed.
Jota, who would have turned 29 on Thursday, was driving back to England with his sibling following a lung operation. However, their car suffered a tyre blowout whilst overtaking on the way to their ferry in Santander, skidding off the road before being engulfed in flames.
The former Reds star left behind his wife Rute Cardoso and three young children. Jota's death was particularly heartbreaking given that he had married his long-term partner Rute just 11 days earlier.
It emerged shortly after the accident that he had spoken with Alvaro Cerqueira, president of Gondomar SC, moments before the crash. Jota was just nine years old when he began his career with Gondomar, with his younger brother Andre following soon after.
Speaking to JN shortly after Jota's death was confirmed, Cerqueira said: "It was just after 10pm last night [Thursday], we were on the phone and he was fine.
"We spoke almost every week, and I know he was going through a happy moment. When Diogo needed to train during the off-season, he would ask to come here, and we would always make everything available.
"His brother would usually come too, and they would both train. It is difficult to talk at a time like this, but what will remain is the image of two very humble people, who leave a huge void."
Jota spent eight years coming through the ranks at his hometown club before Pacos de Ferreira snapped him up in 2013. Just a few years later, Atletico Madrid secured his signature, with England's top flight soon coming knocking thereafter.
His younger brother, Andre, didn't quite scale the same heights in professional football but also made excellent use of his time at Gondomar. In fact, he joined Porto's academy a couple of years before Diogo departed Gondomar, suggesting the elite clubs recognised his talent first.
More than a decade after leaving his local side, Jota still kept in touch with those who helped shape his career. It's a testament to the man's character that two decades after first joining Gondomar, he remained connected to his roots.
This perspective is echoed by Wolverhampton local Monica Ferreira, who runs Jota's favourite coffee shop in the Midlands, Aromas de Portugal. She praised the former Wolves star as a down-to-earth hero who showed no signs of arrogance despite his high profile.
Diogo Jota's parents (L) follow the coffin of Portuguese football player Diogo Jota carried out of the church after the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva
Jota's funeral was held earlier this year (Image: FILIPE AMORIM/AFP via Getty Images)
"I opened my coffee shop and he was one of the first customers," she said. "Myself, I don't know too much about football, so I didn't know him in the first place. My husband, when he saw him, recognised him.
"He was a normal customer. He was very polite, very humble as well, like everyone knows. And he was very nice with everyone. After his first visit to the coffee shop, he was a regular. Every time he could come to the coffee shop, he was coming with his wife.
"We did some dinners with [former Wolves midfielder] Ruben Neves as well. They were very friendly. Really nice people. Everyone is devastated with the news."
Former Wolves stars Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves with coffee shop owner Monica Ferreira
(Image: Monica Ferreira)
Diogo Jota celebrates a goal for Liverpool
(Image: PA)