Diogo Jota’s Death: Liverpool Stars Return To Training Amid Mixed Feelings

Liverpool players returned to training on Tuesday, still reeling from the sudden death of Portuguese forward, Diogo Jota, whose passing sent shockwaves through the football world.

The club had earlier postponed the start of their pre-season activities following the tragic car crash in northern Spain last Thursday that claimed the lives of 28-year-old Jota and his brother, Andre Silva.

However, amid mixed emotions, the Reds, under the watch of new manager Arne Slot, began regrouping at the training ground on Tuesday.

Captain Virgil van Dijk led the contingent of players who reported for training, including Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, and Wataru Endo.

The sombre atmosphere was a reflection of the personal and professional loss felt by the squad.

In an emotional tribute posted on his social media pages earlier, Salah expressed deep sorrow over Jota’s passing, stating that the atmosphere will not be the same when players return to Anfield for the next season.

“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,” the Egyptian forward wrote.

Jota’s funeral, held on Saturday in his hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, was attended by a Liverpool delegation including Slot, Van Dijk, and other members of the squad and club staff.

Meanwhile, Liverpool supporters have turned Anfield into a site of mourning.

Outside the stadium, hundreds of bouquets, club shirts, scarves, and personal notes have been placed to honour the late forward. Some former players also paid their respects in person.

Police Report On Diogo Jota, Brother’s Accident

Meanwhile, Spanish Police have released preliminary reports concerning the untimely death of late Liverpool player, Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva.

Naija News reports that Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother, 26, lost their lives in a car crash while travelling to a jetty to board a ferry heading to the United Kingdom.

Giving an account of the tragic incident, Spanish Police, in a statement released on Tuesday, said, “A vehicle left the road and everything indicates a tyre burst while overtaking.

“As a result of the accident, the car caught fire, and both people were killed.”

Naija News gathered that the late Liverpool star decided to travel back to the UK by boat because his doctors reportedly advised him against travelling by air due to a lung surgery he had.

Earlier today, July 8, about two days after the burial of the two siblings, the Civil Guard in Zamora released an official statement revealing that Diogo Jota was the driver of the crashed car.

The police also revealed that “the vehicle significantly exceeded the speed limit for the highway” at the time of the accident.

“The expert report is being prepared and finalised”, the police statement reads.

“Among other things, the marks left by one of the vehicle’s wheels are being examined.

“All the evidence so far indicates that the driver of the crashed vehicle was Diogo Jota.

“The expert report is not yet complete, but as it is subject to judicial review, it will be submitted to the Puebla de Sanabria court.”

Pre-Season Fixtures in Limbo

Naija News reports that Liverpool are scheduled to play their first pre-season friendly this Sunday against Preston North End. However, the club has suspended ticket sales, pending a final decision on whether the match will proceed.

The Reds are also expected to tour Asia later this month, with fixtures lined up against AC Milan in Hong Kong and Yokohama Marinos in Japan.

As the team begins to adjust to life without Jota, the depth of his absence is already being felt, on and off the pitch.