Salah and Jota were instrumental in Liverpool’s Premier League triumph last season.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has expressed profound grief following the death of teammate Diogo Jota, stating it will be “extremely difficult to accept.”
Jota, 28, tragically passed away in a car accident alongside his brother, Andre Silva, 25.
“I am truly lost for words,” said Salah, who joined Liverpool in 2017.
“Until yesterday, I never imagined anything could make me apprehensive about returning to Liverpool after the break. Teammates come and go, but not in this manner.”
“It will be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we return.”
“My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and his parents, who have suddenly lost their sons. Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten.”
The Guardia Civil confirmed to BBC Sport that both men died at approximately 00:30 local time on Thursday.
Jota was en route back to Liverpool for pre-season training. Following medical advice against flying due to a recent minor surgery, he was traveling by car and ferry.
Doctor Miguel Goncalves, who oversaw Jota’s recovery, described him as an “unparalleled professional.”
Speaking to Portuguese sports newspaper Record, he stated: “I began working with him last Saturday and was with him daily until Wednesday. I bid him farewell at dinner time.”
“He demonstrated an extraordinary recovery – he was undoubtedly an unparalleled professional. He strictly adhered to my instructions, evident in his remarkable progress.”
“He was excited, confident in his recovery, and enthusiastic about the upcoming season.”
Jota married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children, just 11 days prior to the tragic accident.
Diogo Jota: A Tribute
Death of Liverpool forward Jota leaves football world in shock
Liverpool forward Jota dies in car crash
Liverpool players were initially scheduled to return from their summer break on Friday for initial physical assessments at the training ground.
This has been postponed, with a phased return now planned for Monday.
Liverpool, under manager Arne Slot, are slated to play their first pre-season match against Preston North End on Sunday, July 13.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher also paid tribute to “one of my closest friends in football.”
“We bonded over everything from sports to watching any football match we could find – often your brother Andre’s game on your iPad,” said Kelleher.
“I was surprised a lad from Portugal loved sports such as darts, snooker and horse racing so much, and some of my best memories were having a laugh watching them with you.”
“It’s going to hurt for a long time, and I’m going to miss you so much, but I feel so lucky to have gotten to know you and have such a good friend.”
A vigil for Jota and Silva was held at the Chapel of Resurrection in their hometown of Gondomar on Friday.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 on Saturday at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
Portugal and Nottingham Forest midfielder Jota Silva laid a wreath outside the chapel, where a private wake for the brothers’ relatives took place on Friday afternoon.
Locals and fans have been paying tribute to Jota outside the football academy in Gondomar where he played from the age of nine to 17.
The academy is named after him, and a picture shows Jota wearing both the colors of the Portugal national side and the yellow of his hometown club as a child.
People have also been paying their respects at Liverpool and former club Wolves, who he left in 2020 to join the Reds.
Everton players Beto and Youssef Chermiti, who are both Portuguese, and former Toffees midfielder Ian Snodin laid wreaths in Jota and Silva’s memory outside Anfield.
Liverpool have established a book of condolences in the Anfield Road Stand reception area, with an online version also available “accessible to fans across the globe.”
Fans have been laying tributes to Jota at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson laid a tribute to Jota outside Anfield
The football academy in Gondomar is named after Diogo Jota
Tributes for Jota have also been laid at former club Wolves
Everton players Youssef Chermiti (left) and Beto (right), who are both Portuguese, and former Toffees midfielder Ian Snodin (centre) laid wreaths at Anfield
Nottingham Forest and Portugal midfielder Jota Silva (centre) laid a wreath outside the Chapel of Resurrection in Gondomar
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