Luis Díaz has spoken out for the first time following the tragic death of his Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, sharing how deeply the loss has affected him.
Jota and his brother, André Silva, died in a car accident in northern Spain during the early hours of July 3. According to Spanish authorities, the Lamborghini Huracan they were in suffered a tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle, veered off the road, and caught fire.
Jota had recently undergone surgery and had been advised against flying, prompting him to drive from the Spanish port city of Santander back to Liverpool for pre-season training.
The football community was left in shock by the devastating news. A wake was held for the brothers in Gondomar, Portugal, on Friday, followed by their funeral over the weekend.
Several of Jota’s teammates from both club and country attended the funeral, including Liverpool manager Arne Slot and players Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson. Portuguese internationals Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, as well as Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, were also present. Cristiano Ronaldo, however, did not attend.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and winger Luis Díaz were both absent. Díaz was in Colombia at the time but has now opened up about the heartbreaking news, revealing the strong bond he had with Jota since joining Liverpool from Porto in January 2022.
In an emotional interview with WinSportsTV (via the Daily Mail), Díaz said:
“It’s incredibly hard to receive news like this — it’s truly heartbreaking. Nobody is ever prepared for something like this. Diogo was a close friend from the moment I arrived at Liverpool. His family welcomed me warmly, and we built a strong friendship. We shared a respectful rivalry that helped us grow.”
“May he rest in peace. He’ll always have a place in my heart, and his presence will live on within the team.”
“I send all my strength to his family — his wife and children — who are enduring so much pain right now.”
He added, “It hurt a lot. When I woke up and saw the news, I couldn’t hold back my tears. The pain was immense.”
Jota, who joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 for over £40 million, scored 65 goals in 182 appearances. During his time at the club, he helped win the Premier League, one FA Cup, and two League Cups. With Portugal, he won two UEFA Nations League titles — the most recent after a penalty shootout win over Spain this summer.
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