By James Dampney
A number of Liverpool players are expected to be in attendance when the funeral of Jota and his brother Andre Silva takes place in Gondomar, Portugal on Saturday (AEST) following their shock death in a car accident.
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Ever since Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton in 2020, he struck an immediate rapport with fellow goalscorer Salah.
The duo regularly provided assists for one another, with one of Jota’s final goals for the club coming from an assist from the Egyptian great in a 5-0 Premier League rout of West Ham last December (see below).
It’s understood Salah cut short his offseason holiday in his home country after hearing the crushing news and he took to Instagram to express his feelings towards his former teammate.
The reigning Premier League player of the year used the heartbreaking word “frighten” to describe his thoughts of returning to an Anfield club that will no longer feature his fellow winger.
“I am truly lost for words,” Salah wrote in a post to his 65 million followers.
“Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break.
“Teammates 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.”
The post has received a staggering 3.4 million likes and almost 32,000 comments.
Jota was travelling back to England via ferry just days after marrying his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardosa, the mother of his three children.
The Kop idol died instantly when his hired acid green $430,000 Lamborghini supercar suffered a suspected tyre blowout and crashed in a fireball on the A52 highway in Zamora province, northern Spain.
The brothers were killed when they were en route to the Spanish port city of Santander to catch a ferry to the UK after the Portugal star was urged not to fly following lung surgery.
On Friday, thousands of tributes poured in from across the football community, with Jota’s former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp leading the way.
The German said: “This is a moment where I struggle! 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 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 – Love J.”
There have also been tributes at a wide range of ongoing sporting events, including Wimbledon and the Club World Cup.
Jota’s grieving wife was consoled by relatives amid emotional scenes at his funeral chapel.
Cardoso – who married the Liverpool ace just 11 days earlier – arrived at Sao Cosme Chapel in his home town of Gondomar near Porto, northern Portugal, early on Friday morning (AEST).
Portugal’s president Marcelo de Sousa was among those arriving to pay respects at a wake for the brothers.
A funeral ceremony will then take place next door at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar at 10am Saturday (7pm AEST).
It was unclear whether the funeral proceedings would be open to the public.
Current Liverpool boss Arne Slot, various Liverpool players and club greats including Steven Gerrard have also paid tribute to Jota’s memory.
– with The Sun