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The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
Diogo Jota and Andre Silva's tragic deaths show sport is nothing more than a joyful distraction from what truly matters
AT THIS time of year, with the transfer market abuzz, there is a tendency to view elite footballers as commodities. Their price-tags, fees, resale values and contract lengths are discussed by us all with the casual air of stockbrokers observing the gilt markets. 9 9 And then on a sunny morning in early July, chilling news arrived from Spain which made all of that talk sound so trivial, so brutal, so cold. Diogo Jota — newly wed to Rute Cardoso, his childhood sweetheart and mother of his three children — was dead at 28. Jota was a freshly crowned champion of England with Liverpool and a mainstay of the Portugal team who had just won the Nations League again and are rated as dark horses for next summer's World Cup. But above all Jota was a human being, as fragile as the rest of us. A husband, a father, a son and a brother to Andre Silva — the 25-year-old fellow professional footballer who perished with him yesterday when a tyre blew and his Lamborghini burst into flames. Jota was at the peak of his powers and in the prime of his life — married for just 11 days, he had posted footage of his wedding on social media just hours before his death. The poignance was agonising; the grief of those left behind unimaginable. When the news of Jota's death broke, it was a warm, sun-drenched summer's morning in England. 9 9 The All England Club was opening up its gates for day four on Wimbledon's lawns, the cricketers of England and India were preparing for the second day of the Second Test at Edgbaston and transfer speculation was fizzing around online. Then, suddenly, the world of sport froze. For while sport is the most important of unimportant things, we all know at heart that it is nothing more than a joyful distraction from that which truly matters. At Anfield, masses of floral tributes were left and warm respects paid. Liverpool is a club which has sadly experienced tragedy too often before and which honours those lost with a fierce, protective pride. At Anfield, Jota will never be forgotten. Few football clubs cherish their heroes quite as warmly and Jota the Slotter, the clinical finisher with that extraordinary burst of pace, was one of the best of Arne Slot's champions. Sometimes, while watching the Reds, you could forget that Jota was on the pitch. Then, with a sudden acceleration and a thrust of the boot, he had won them the match. He so often proved the matchwinner when arriving from the bench, in the Anfield supersub traditions of David Fairclough and Divock Origi. But as a deep-lying centre-forward or from the left wing, he was an integral part of the squad built by Jurgen Klopp, and honed by Slot, which won the title by a country mile last season. 9 Jota scored the first goal of the Slot era in a 2-0 opening-day victory at Ipswich and the last time he netted was the winner in the Merseyside derby in April. A little over a month ago, he cavorted on the Anfield pitch when Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy. Jota, capped 49 times by his country, was not the star of his club or international teams. Those were Mo Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet football's Galacticos do not win trophies without the versatility and selfless work-rate of players like Jota. Still, his record of 65 goals in 182 appearances for the Reds was extraordinary for a player who was not a regular starter. In five seasons, he won every major domestic honour and played in a Champions League final, against Real Madrid in 2022, which Liverpool were unfortunate to lose 1-0. After spells with Pacos de Ferreira and Porto in his home town, Jota arrived in England at Wolves, on loan from Atletico Madrid, and helped to propel Nuno Espirito Santo's team from the Championship to the Europa League in three seasons. At Molineux, his loss was also deeply felt by a club where he was 'adored and cherished'. Yet this year had represented his peak, as a footballer and as a man. In the space of a month Jota won major honours with Liverpool and Portugal, then married his girlfriend of 12 years — the couple posing before the altar of a church in Porto with their two sons and baby daughter less than a fortnight ago. 'I'm the lucky one,' Jota had posted on social media. How heartbreaking those words read now. How fragile we are. 9 9 9
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
Brit Wimbledon star Neal Skupski, 35, finds out his grandmother has died just minutes after leaving court
NEAL SKUPSKI found out his beloved grandmother died minutes after his opening Wimbledon win. Britain's leading doubles star, 35, and partner Joe Salisbury fought hard to beat fellow Brits Joshua Paris and Charles Broom 6-3 5-7 6-4 in round one of the men's doubles competition. 3 Once he stepped off Court 8, the bad news was relayed to him by close family members that his 98-year-old granny Mary – who had been ill for a while and was in hospital – had passed away. It had already been a difficult day for Skupski, a big Liverpool fan, given the tragic death of Diogo Jota. Skupski, 2023 Wimbledon men's doubles champion, said: 'I have just found out that my nan passed today. So, it has been a very tough day. 'I found out once I came off court. About 30 minutes ago. She was 98. She was a fighter. Had been ill for a little bit of time. 'She didn't die out of the blue. I have been able to come to terms with it. She was coming to the end. It's part of life. It will be a tough few days for my family. 'We had known it was a matter of time for a few days now. It was tough to find out when I'd come off court. But I will be okay. 'She would want me to be here. She would be proud of what happened and how we fought. 'Maybe my mood has changed a bit coming up to these Championships. I'm probably quite bubbly on the practice courts, with good energy. 'Maybe the team had thought and seen I was not myself. People like my brother and coach, he spoke to some of the coaches, he maybe told them the situation. It's Wimbledon now, it's my job. 'She would have wanted me to have fought. We are here and want to win the whole thing. Being on the court will take my mind off it. 'My nan was a massive supporter of me. I spent the most time growing up with her. She was the closest grandparent I had.' On Thursday, the All England Club announced it would relax its strict all-white rules in light of the Jota tragedy so people could wear black armbands in tribute. Skupski – who had been to the Liverpool training HQ and even played padel there – is considering donning one for his next appearance. The three-time Wimbledon doubles champion said: 'It's been a tough day for Liverpool fans. I found out this morning that Jota had passed away. 'A bit strange this morning. You're on Twitter and see a headline about Jota in Spanish. But it's along the lines of 'accident' and it's in black-and-white. 'Has he actually died? You think your heroes or sportsmen or people you look up to, they're invincible. 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19 'It shows everyone's human. Things come at you. You don't know what is around the corner. 'It was really tough to take. Him and his brother. A tough one for his whole family. He got married a few weeks ago. He has three kids. 'My condolences go out to his family. It must be heartbreaking for them at the moment. The more privacy they get the better. 'When I was at Liverpool, I met the whole team. Diogo was there. I spoke to some people today who are connected to Liverpool and they say, not only was he an amazing footballer, but he was so down-to-earth. 'A great finisher. But also someone who kept the whole dressing room together, making it run so smoothly. 'It will be a big loss for Liverpool. I am sure they will do something in their memory.'
Metro
23 minutes ago
- Metro
Premier League star 'opening doors' to £50m Arsenal transfer
Arsenal's discussions to sign Noni Madueke are ongoing and the winger is said to be 'opening doors' to complete a possible transfer move from Chelsea. The Gunners have ramped up their efforts to strengthen their attack this summer on the back of yet another trophyless season with Mikel Arteta at the helm. Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko have been placed at the top of Arsenal's wishlist at centre-forward, while a host of high-profile names have been identified as potential replacements for Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank. Real Madrid's Rodrygo, Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, Newcastle's Anthony Gordon and Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma are among the many left-sided attackers to have linked with moves to the Emirates in recent weeks. Madueke also finds himself on Arsenal's shortlist of options and Chelsea are said to open to the prospect of the England international making the controversial switch across London should they receive a suitable offer from their bitter rivals. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Reports last month indicated the Blues – who today snapped up Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund – could be willing to part with Madueke for a fee in the region of £50million. According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal remain in close contact with Madueke's entourage and all the signs point towards the 23-year-old attacker being interested in a potential transfer to Arsenal. However, discussing the situation in a video on his YouTube channel, the Italian transfer expert was keen to stress that this did not necessarily mean Madueke '100 per cent' decided either way regarding a move away from Stamford Bridge. 'I'm told, in recent hours, contacts are taking place again with the camp of Noni Madueke,' Romano said. 'We know Arsenal are focussing on Eberechi Eze, with discussions ongoing. For Noni Madueke, it's a separate topic, it's a different topic. 'But for Noni Madueke, Arsenal remain in contact with his camp and, just to give you my feeling, when people close to the player continue to meet the club it means that – and that's my information – the player could be open to a potential switch to Arsenal. 'It doesn't mean that Madueke wants to leave Chelsea, it doesn't mean that Madueke is done at Chelsea or is leaving Chelsea to go to Arsenal 100 per cent.' Romano added: 'It just means that Noni Madueke opens doors to a potential move to Arsenal. Then, it depends what Arsenal want to do, what Arsenal can offer and what Arsenal want to offer. 'At the moment, there is no official bid, no concrete negotiations yet, but just these contacts are continuing for Noni Madueke.' Madueke racked up seven goals and three assists in the Premier League to help Chelsea secure Champions League qualification with a fourth-placed finish last term. The Barnet-born star has been with Chelsea for two-and-a-half years having joined the club in a £28.5million move from PSV Eindhoven in 2023. His current contract at Stamford Bridge runs through to June 2030. In an exclusive interview with Metro, ex-Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair said his former club would be making a 'crazy' decision if the allowed Madueke to up sticks and join their city rivals. 'I think that would be going against the grain of what Chelsea are trying to achieve,' Sinclair said. 'They have been recruiting a young squad and letting them develop for four or five years and Madueke should be a big part of those plans, given how he has grown. 'He's got that recognition from England now as well, and that's brought his confidence on even more. 'Pedro Neto is obviously also on that right side, but given the competitions Chelsea are in next season, you need all these players if you are going to compete and bridge that gap at the top of the table. 'I would be surprised if they let him go. I know Arsenal like to come in for the odd Chelsea player every now and again, but for me, that would just be crazy to let Madueke go, especially to a rival.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal and Man Utd told to 'take a punt' on £60m star: 'He's a top player' MORE: Arsenal offered chance to sign Real Madrid star after shock U-turn MORE: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says Chelsea were right not to sign 'unconvincing' £64m star
