LIVERPOOL — Mohamed Salah says he is “truly lost for words” and “frightened” to return to Liverpool following the tragic death of teammate Diogo Jota in a car crash that has stunned the football world.
Jota, 27, and his younger brother Andre Silva died early Thursday when their car veered off a motorway in Spain and burst into flames. The incident occurred just days after Jota’s wedding to longtime partner Rute Cardoso. The couple shared a video of their June 22 ceremony hours before the accident. They had three children.
The shocking loss has deeply shaken Liverpool Football Club. As tributes continue to pour in, captain Virgil van Dijk expressed his heartbreak, writing on Instagram that he was “absolutely devastated and in total disbelief.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said the entire club must now stand united. “We owe it to Diogo to be there for one another,” he said in a statement.
Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah echoed that sentiment in an emotional message posted Friday on Instagram.
“Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break,” Salah wrote. “Teammates come and go but not like this. It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there.”
Salah also extended heartfelt condolences to Jota’s family. “My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children,” he added. “Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten.”
The tragedy has prompted Liverpool to delay the return of some players for pre-season training. The first wave of players was originally scheduled to report for physical tests on Friday, but that has now been pushed back to Monday.
A funeral for Jota and his brother is scheduled for Saturday, following a wake held in Portugal on Friday.
Liverpool’s first pre-season match is set for July 13 against Preston. In the meantime, the club has lowered flags to half-mast and opened a book of condolence. Fans have created a growing shrine outside Anfield, leaving flowers, scarves, and jerseys in memory of the Portugal international.
Similar tributes have appeared outside Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux Stadium, where Jota played before joining Liverpool.
Jota’s death has cast a heavy shadow over Liverpool’s preparations for the upcoming season and left the football community in mourning.
