Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah has become the latest to pay emotional tribute to his former teammate Diogo Jota, following the tragic death of the Liverpool forward who was involved in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Jota, aged just 28, died alongside his brother André Silva in a devastating road traffic incident that has left the footballing world in shock.
The Egyptian forward formed a close bond with Jota during their time together at Anfield, first linking up in 2020 following Portuguese forward’s move from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Over the next four years, they shared the pitch 150 times for Liverpool, combining for 19 goals between them.
Together, Jota and Salah helped Liverpool win the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and reach the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final. Their connection on and off the pitch was clear for all to see, and Salah’s emotional tribute underscores just how much Diogo meant to his teammates.
In a heartbreaking message posted on Instagram, Salah expressed his grief and admitted he is “frightened” to return to Liverpool for pre-season training, knowing Jota will no longer be there.
“I am truly lost for words,” Salah wrote. “Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me about 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 return.”
Salah, who has been enjoying a summer break following a historic season, in which he won the Premier League title alongside his former team mate and claimed the Golden Boot with 34 goals across all competitions, is expected to return to England on Friday, according to Egyptian outlet YallaKora.
In his message, Salah also offered his condolences to Jota’s family:
“My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who have suddenly lost both of their sons. Those close to Diogo and his brother André need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten.”
As Salah poignantly expressed, returning to a Liverpool squad without Diogo Jota is something no one could have imagined. Yet in grief, the team will come together to honour a friend, a teammate, and a beloved part of the Liverpool family.
