Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has said he is “frightened” to return to training following the sudden death of teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash alongside his younger brother Andre Silva on Thursday in northern Spain.
In an emotional statement on Instagram, Salah revealed the depth of his shock:
“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.”
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The accident, which occurred after the vehicle veered off a motorway and burst into flames, has thrown Liverpool FC into mourning. Jota, aged 28, had only recently married Rute Cardoso, his longtime partner and the mother of their three children, just two weeks prior to the crash.
Pre-Season Paused Amid Grief
Liverpool postponed the return of its first-team players for pre-season fitness tests originally scheduled for Friday, delaying them to Monday as the club grapples with the loss.
“We owe it to Diogo to stand together,” said Arne Slot, Liverpool’s new head coach. “We must be there for one another during this unimaginable time.”
Ticket sales for the club’s pre-season match against Preston, originally set for July 13, have been suspended.
Outside Anfield, thousands of fans have created a growing memorial, laying flowers, scarves, and jerseys. Flags at the stadium were lowered to half-mast, and a book of condolence was opened.
An Outpouring of Grief from Football Community
Current and former teammates have paid tribute to Jota, whose career included pivotal roles at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool, where he scored 65 goals in 182 appearances and helped win both the FA Cup and League Cup in 2021/22.
“Absolutely devastated and in total disbelief,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk wrote on Instagram.
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, now at Ajax, shared personal memories of Jota:
“You always wanted to have a laugh… it was a pleasure to share a pitch with you—but more importantly, a friendship.”
Even rivals offered condolences. An Everton delegation, including Beto and Youssef Chermiti, visited Anfield to lay wreaths. Similar tributes were seen at Wolves’ Molineux Stadium, where Jota was also deeply admired.
A Club in Mourning, A League in Reflection
Jota’s final public appearance as a Liverpool player was during the club’s trophy parade last month, which ended in tragedy as a car ploughed into the crowd, injuring over 100 people—adding another layer of trauma to a grieving fanbase.
The Portuguese international had also just helped his country win the UEFA Nations League in June and had earned 49 caps for the national team.
“Diogo was a rare light—both as a footballer and as a person,” said Cristiano Ronaldo, his teammate for Portugal. “This makes no sense. We will all miss you.”
Last Updated on April 7, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
