Cody Gakpo reveals Liverpool players' gesture to Diogo Jota family after his tragic death
Liverpool star Cody Gakpo has paid tribute to "outstanding" and "wonderful" former team-mate Diogo Jota after his tragic death aged just 28 last month as he revealed how Reds stars are still reaching out to his family.
The club were left in mourning when it was revealed Jota had tragically died along with brother Andre following a car crash in Portugal, when his Lamborghini suffered a tire blowout while overtaking before leaving the road and bursting into flames.
His passing stunned the football world as figures from across the sport made tributes. A majority of the Liverpool squad flew out to Portugal to attend his funeral and show their respect to his family, including wife Rute Cardoso and their three young children.
Gakpo showed his respect towards Jota after performing his trademark celebration after scoring in a friendly against Preston, their first game back since the player's death. He has now opened up on team's struggles to come to terms with the news and the squad's desire to help his family.
"It's been very difficult, for obvious reasons," Gakpo told the Liverpool Echo. "I think a lot of us were still on vacation when the situation happened and we came together as a team and as a club as soon as possible.
"We tried to be there as much as we could at that moment for the family and together as a team to help wherever we could. We still try to do that and everyone is still busy a bit more behind the scenes than what is in the news, to reach out and help as much as possible.
"The family of Diogo, hopefully, felt the love we have for them and for Diogo and his brother. But yeah, you could see how we try to act as a club and a team, the supporters as well, the whole city, every football fan, that we as Liverpool try to be a family."
Liverpool have tried to do their part by retiring his No 20 shirt, commissioning a sculpture of Jota while the players have made a "Forever 20" emblem that they will wear on their Adidas shirts this season.
And Gakpo said it was important to the team to remember his legacy as a human being - not just as a player - and how he touched all their lives.
"I think [the emblem] is the least we can do," he added. "Obviously him, as a player, he was an outstanding player but him as a person was even more wonderful. Like he was such a great person with everyone, everyone loved him and that is also what you saw with how everyone reacted.
"So yeah, I think it was more to remember who he was to us. Not as a player - because a player I think we can see the highlights on YouTube but more as the person he was. He will be missed this season but he will be missed by us, this club, this team and his family, for the rest of our lives."
Liverpool have been trying to move on as a squad as they prepare to defend their Premier League title this season, with their opener coming up soon against Bournemouth at home on August 15.
First, they face Athletic Bilbao in a friendly before a Community Shield against Palace and more tributes to Jota are expected.
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