The sudden death of Diogo Jota (28) and his brother André Silva (25) has led to an outpouring of condolences for the player who shares Silva's name. Amid the confusion, his wife has spoken out.
British media 'Express' reported on the 8th (Korean time) that "the wife of 'namesake' André Silva of RB Leipzig stepped forward to clarify the confusion that arose after Jota and his brother's deaths."
Silva's wife stated through her social media account that "my husband is a completely different person despite sharing a name with Jota's brother," adding that "he has received many messages of concern and condolences, so I want to clarify the facts."
Jota died in a car accident on the A-52 highway near Zamora, Spain, on the 3rd. A tire burst, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and catch fire, leading to its total destruction. Spanish police announced that Jota was speeding.
Jota's younger brother, André Silva, who was a passenger, also lost his life.
Jota, who recently underwent lung surgery, chose to travel by car instead of by plane. However, the tragedy could not be avoided. He had gotten married just ten days prior and was the father of three children.
Jota began with Fasoo, then moved on to Atlético Madrid, Porto, and Wolverhampton before joining Liverpool in 2020. He recorded 65 goals in 182 matches with Liverpool, winning both the Premier League and the League Cup, as well as the FA Cup. He also contributed to Liverpool's 20th league title last season. A month ago, he won the UEFA Nations League as a member of the Portugal national team.
Liverpool expressed shock at the "tragic death" and noted that the entire country of Portugal is in mourning. Current Liverpool manager Arne Slot said, "I will never forget him." Former manager Jürgen Klopp also stated, "My heart is broken."
Jota's funeral was held on the 5th at 11 a.m. local time in Portugal at the Igreja Matriz church in Gondomar, northern Portugal. Among those attending were Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, along with Robertson, Darwin Núñez, Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley. Manager Slot and former captain Jordan Henderson were also present.
BBC reported, "The team quietly bid farewell to a teammate with whom they had shared the Premier League title three months ago. The sight of players walking in a line towards the church, as if entering a stadium, filled the atmosphere with deep sadness. Some fans wept, and others applauded as the players arrived over the barriers. One woman shouted, 'Stay strong.'"
Portugal national team colleagues also gathered. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and João Félix stayed by Jota's side. Roberto Martínez, the coach of Portugal, and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President, along with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, also attended the funeral to express their condolences.
André Silva, who shares a name with Jota's brother, collaborated with Jota during their time at Porto, appearing in 29 matches and scoring 7 goals together.
He mourned on his social media account, saying, "I can't believe it. Life can collapse so easily. We shared many moments, both on and off the field. His death is an indescribable pain." He visited his hometown of Gondomar with his wife to pay tribute to the Jota brothers.
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