Diogo Jota death ‘extremely difficult to accept’ – Mohamed Salah

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has said it is “going to be extremely difficult to accept” the death of fellow Reds player Diogo Jota.

Jota, aged 28, died in a car crash along with his brother Andre Silva, who was 25.

“I am truly lost for words,” said Salah, who joined Liverpool in the summer of 2017.

“Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break. Team-mates 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.

“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 Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten.”

The Guardia Civil told BBC Sport both men died at about 00:30 local time on Thursday.

Jota was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season and, as doctors had advised him against flying because he had undergone minor surgery, he was making the trip by car and ferry.

Doctor Miguel Goncalves, who worked with Jota on his recovery, described him as an “unparalleled professional”.

He told Portuguese sports newspaper Record: “I started working with him last Saturday and I was with him every day until this Wednesday. I said goodbye to him at dinner time.

“He made an extraordinary recovery – he was undoubtedly an unparalleled professional. He strictly followed what I told him, as you could see in the way he was recovering.

“He was excited, confident in his recovery and enthusiastic about the next season.”

He married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with who he had three children, 11 days before the fatal crash.