Liverpool postpone pre-season return with club and players grieving following tragic death of Diogo Jota
The Kop star and
Portugal
5
Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota was killed in a car crash in Spain on Thursday
Credit: AP
5
Jota's younger brother, Andre Silva, also died in the crash
Credit: FC Porto
5
Arne Slot's troops' return to training has been postponed following Jota's passing
Credit: EPA
And his passing has prompted the Merseyside club to delay the first group of Arne Slot's troops' proposed return to training, which was scheduled for Friday.
Tributes have poured in from around the world for the late dad of three, who lost his life less than two weeks after tying the knot with childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso.
Team-mate Mohamed Salah said: 'I am truly lost for words.
"Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to
Liverpool
after the break.
READ MORE ON DIOGO JOTA
'Team-mates come and go, but not like this. It's going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won't be there when we go back.
'My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children.
'Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten.'
Former Kop chief Jurgen Klopp said: "This is a moment where I struggle!
Most read in Football
5
5
"There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it!
"I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre.
Diogo Jota killed alongside brother in Lamborghini crash days after marrying childhood sweetheart
'Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!
'All my prayers, thoughts and
power
to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace."
Reds boss
Slot
said: "What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw?
"I wish I had the words but I know I do not.
"All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.
"My first thoughts are not those of a
football
manager.
I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre
Jurgen Klopp
"They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.
"My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone.
"The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.
"This is not solely a response to tragedy.
"It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole."
Jota and his brother will be laid to rest on Saturday in Gondomar,
Portugal
.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘has Besiktas contract terminated' with former England star's career left in limbo
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN has become a free agent after Besiktas terminated his contract. Oxlade-Chamberlain, 31, joined the Turkish giants from 2 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has become a free agent after Besiktas terminated his contract 2 Besiktas tore Oxlade-Chamberlain's deal after paying him a hefty severance fee According to Yeni Safak, the Istanbul outfit tore the versatile midfielder's deal after paying him a hefty severance fee. The same source claims Besiktas paid £1.2million in order to release the former England international. That would pose as a cheaper price than to pay the former The ex-Liverpool ace's contract with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side ran until 2026. Read More on Football Sources told SunSport Oxlade-Chamberlain fell out of favour in Solskjaer's eyes ahead of the coming season. The same sources claim Besiktas initially wanted to pay the ex- However, the central midfielder refused to accept and a meeting took place where a final decision was made to pay everything in full. Oxlade-Chamberlain amassed a mere total of five goals and one assist in 50 appearances with Besiktas. Most read in Football The former Premier League ace's future is currently uncertain after his exit from the Turkish outfit. Besiktas, though, will still have English representation this coming season. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain shows off his football skills at Beşiktaş Training Solskjaer's side
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Ex-Liverpool and Rangers midfielder Jordan Rossiter joins Waterford
Former Liverpool and Rangers midfielder Jordan Rossiter has joined League of Ireland side Waterford. Rossiter was hailed as the heir to Steven Gerrard's throne when he made his Reds debut at 17 but has been without a club since being released by Shrewsbury Town in May. Now 28-year-old, he links up with fellow Liverpudlians John Coleman and Danny Ventre at the RSC. The duo were appointed by the club's Fleetwood Group owners to manage the team in May after a run of six successive defeats cost Keith Long his job. Waterford's 2-0 win over Cork City last Friday lifted the Blues up to seventh in the table above Galway United. A debut could be afforded to the new capture in Friday's FAI Cup tie against non-league St Mochta's. Rossiter joined his hometown club Liverpool at just six years of age, spending over 13 years at the Reds before moving on. Jordan Rossiter's first words as a Blue 👇#WaterfordFC — Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) July 14, 2025 During his time at Anfield, Rossiter was first named on the Liverpool bench in their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League at the end of 2013. In September 2014, Rossiter made his first-team debut in Liverpool's League Cup match against Middlesbrough at Anfield age just 17, where he opened the scoring on his debut after just ten minutes – latching onto Rickie Lambert's through ball before finding the back of the net. In August of the 2015/16 season, Rossiter made his Premier League debut, coming on for then Brendan Rodgers' Reds away to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a 0-0 draw. The following month, Rossiter made his European debut for Liverpool against French side Bordeaux as he played 80 minutes in their 1-1 draw in the French city in their Europa League group stage clash. He made another European group stage appearance against Sion in that 2015/16 injury hit season, before departing his hometown club to sign for Rangers FC in the Scottish Premiership for the 2016/17 season. Rossiter made 16 appearances for Rangers over the course of his three-year spell with the Scottish giants, before first Bury Town on loan & then Fleetwood Town secured his services. His move to Fleetwood was made permanent for the 2020/21 season, being made Fleetwood captain in 2021 for the Cod Army. He joined Bristol Rovers in 2022, before having spells at Shrewsbury Town & Oldham Athletic most recently. Rossiter said: 'It was a phone call with John Coleman & Danny Ventre. I know them both quite well, and just the way the club is going. "I spoke to a few people here before I signed, so I knew it was a really exciting project here. I watched Friday's 2-0 win in the Derby against Cork so I can't wait to get going now. 'I'm looking forward to working with John & Danny. I've obviously played against John's sides a few times when I was at Fleetwood & he was Accrington Stanley. "I know what his teams are about – always going to be competitive & I'm looking forward to playing for him. 'I can bring a good bit of experience to the group. I just love playing football wherever that is, so whether that's Liverpool, Rangers or Waterford, I just want to enjoy my football, so I'm looking forward to getting out there on the RSC pitch.'
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Liverpool legend was struck by double tragedy on the day of Diogo Jota's death
John Aldridge has revealed that he lost a close friend on the same day that news of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota's death emerged. The former Anfield and Ireland striker says he is only coming to terms now with the tragedy earlier this month that took the lives of Jota and his brother André Silva. And he has urged Arne Slot's side to honour their late teammate by winning back-to-back Premier League titles. Jota was killed in a car crash in Spain on July 3 and Aldridge told MirrorSport: 'A friend of mine, the same day, died outside the gym. 'He was only in his 60s, same as me, so I couldn't… I was just in shock for a few days, to be honest. 'You didn't really realise the enormity of the impact that it had on the Liverpool family, and how well liked (Jota) was. 'It was such a tragic, tragic story as well; he just got married, his brother too. The whole story is so tragic and horrible.' Aldridge paid tribute to Liverpool fans for their collective outpouring of grief and love in the wake of Jota's passing. 'As a Liverpool supporter, it hit me really hard. It hit loads of supporters hard, because they see this lad as a hero, as a family member in many respects, without being corny. 'It's a massive impact, it really is a huge impact. There is nothing you can say that is going to bring him back, but the respect that the fans have shown by going to Anfield, like a sanctuary, and doing what we did after Hillsborough, shows the respect and what he meant, and what Liverpool means to everyone. 'To be quite honest, I'm only really coming to terms with it this week, over the last couple of days. 'Your heart goes out to everyone who knew him, his family and friends. You don't know what to say. 'From a personal perspective, and from the fans, you couldn't get any better respect than what Liverpool fans have shown him and his family, to try and help them through this.' Emotional tributes were paid to Jota before and after last weekend's pre-season friendly against Preston at Deepdale. Claudia Rose Maguire, the wife of Cork City striker Sean Maguire, sang the famous Anfield anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone', while Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in front of the visiting fans. Images of Diogo and André Silva were shown on the big screen inside the ground, and Darwin Nunez marked his goal with a couple of his late teammate's trademark celebrations. Playing football, Aldridge said, might have been the last thing on the minds of Liverpool's stars over the past fortnight. However, he recalled how he rediscovered his love for the game after the Hillsborough tragedy. 'It was very classy the way they did it,' he said of the Preston friendly. 'You have got to try and use it as motivation now, to try and win the league for him. 'After Hillsborough, I didn't want to play, and I missed the Spain game when we won 1-0 (in the Italia '90 qualifiers). 'But the families (of the Hillsborough victims) told me, that's not what our dad or kids wanted, they loved watching you play, so please play on. 'It sort of resonated with me and gave me a lift to try and get playing again. 'That's what maybe the manager and staff and psychologists around the club have got to do with the players now, because it's a massive hit on them, a huge hit. 'But you have got to play on. It's what Diogo would have wanted, what his family want. Go and represent the club and do it for him, try and do it for him.' # John Aldridge was speaking to MirrorSport on behalf of BetBrain.
