He did not accompany his colleague on his final journey. Luis Díaz (28, Liverpool) drew anger from fans when it was revealed that he did not attend Diogo Jota's funeral, and remarks made during this time regarding transfer negotiations stoked the controversy.
Diogo Jota passed away in a car accident on the highway near Zamora, Spain, on the 3rd (Korea time). It was a tragic accident involving his brother, and his sudden death while spending his honeymoon with his three children, just after getting married, shocked soccer fans worldwide.
Liverpool designated Jota's jersey number 20 for permanent retirement, and teammates and club officials visited the funeral hall in Gondomar to say their last goodbyes.
Díaz was not present at the event. That same day, he appeared on social media smiling and dancing at a local YouTuber event in his hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia.
Without an explanation for his absence from the funeral, Díaz's attitude of posting only joyful photos and videos drew strong backlash from Liverpool fans. In particular, anecdotes of Jota extending a helping hand to Díaz in the past, such as offering his home for free upon Díaz's arrival at Porto and supporting him while raising a number 7 jersey for Díaz's father, who had been kidnapped, were revisited, leading to criticism that it was "disloyal behavior."
Amidst this, Díaz once again drew attention with remarks regarding his future. According to an 8th report by 'Tribuna,' Díaz stated in an interview with a Colombian influencer, "We are in negotiations. We will strive for the best outcome for both ourselves and the club."
He added, "I am currently satisfied with Liverpool and in a very calm state. But at the same time, I am in the process of making the best decision."
With interest from several clubs, including Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, and Al Nassr, Díaz has directly stated that he is continuing negotiations with Liverpool regarding his future.
'Mundo Deportivo' reported on the 7th that "Díaz fully trusts Barcelona and plans to submit an official transfer request to Liverpool within days." In fact, it is reported that Díaz's camp informed the club that "negotiations can be conducted without a release clause or registration conditions."
Since joining Liverpool, Díaz has played 98 games and scored 18 goals, taking on an important role. However, there are evaluations that his standing could change under the new leadership after the end of Jürgen Klopp's tenure.
Despite the controversy, Díaz stated, "I am still in discussions with the club and those approaching us. I am working to lead any decision in the best direction," but it cannot be ruled out that future choices regarding whether to stay or transfer will be influenced by public opinion.
Díaz, who did not share in Jota's final moments, and the subsequent remarks regarding transfer negotiations. It is a critical time for him to clearly explain his choices and the reasons behind them in order to regain fans' trust.
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