LIVERPOOL, July 5 — Mohamed Salah has spoken publicly for the first time since the tragic death of his Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, admitting he feels “frightened” at the thought of returning to the club in the wake of the tragedy.
Jota, 28, and his younger brother, André, died in a car crash in northwest Spain early Thursday morning.
Spanish authorities confirmed that their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames, with initial investigations pointing to a tyre blowout as the cause. Despite rapid emergency response, both men were declared dead at the scene.
Jota had recently undergone lung surgery and was advised not to travel by air. He had planned to return to England by ferry in the days following the operation.
The Portugal international had only recently celebrated his wedding to longtime partner Rute Cardoso on June 22. Together, they had three young children.
In a statement posted on Friday, Salah paid tribute to his fallen teammate and expressed the emotional toll of the loss.
“I am truly lost for words,” the Egypt international 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.
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 André need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten.”
Liverpool’s football community has been in mourning since news of Jota’s death broke. Head coach Arne Slot and former manager Jürgen Klopp released statements honouring Jota’s talent, character, and commitment to the club.
Slot described him as “a dedicated player and a kind soul,” while Klopp called his death “an unimaginable loss to football and to all of us who knew him.”
Outside Anfield, a growing vigil of flowers, scarves, and handwritten messages has formed. On Friday afternoon, former captain Jordan Henderson visited the site and was visibly emotional as he laid down a personal tribute reading: “Rest in peace, my friend, along with your brother André. We will all miss you.”
In Gondomar, Portugal, where the Jota family lives, preparations are underway for the funeral scheduled on Saturday.
Local officials and fans have joined in mourning the popular footballer and his brother, both of whom were well-regarded in their community.
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 in a £40 million deal and quickly established himself as a key figure in the team’s attack. Known for his intelligent movement and clinical finishing, he helped Liverpool secure the Premier League title last season under Arne Slot, scoring nine goals in the campaign.
The club has yet to announce official plans to honour Jota, but internal sources suggest a memorial will take place ahead of Liverpool’s next fixture.
Teammates are expected to return to training next week, though Salah’s comments underscore the emotional weight hanging over the squad.
As tributes continue to pour in from across the football world, Diogo Jota’s legacy as both a player and a person is being remembered with deep affection — not only for his talent on the pitch, but for the warmth and dedication he brought to every aspect of his life.
