Liverpool icon Ian Rush has broken his silence following the tragic death of Diogo Jota, revealing the personal heartbreak that prevented him from attending the forward’s funeral.
In an emotional Instagram post, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer shared that he was mourning the loss of his own brother, Gerald, who passed away just days before the devastating news of Jota’s death was announced.
“I had planned to attend Diogo’s funeral,” Rush explained, “but with my brother Gerald passing away last week, I was in the midst of organising his funeral when the news about Diogo came through. It’s been an extremely tough time, and I just couldn’t be there.”
Paying tribute to Jota, Rush described the Portuguese international as “probably the most natural finisher at the club” and praised him as a humble and hard-working professional.
“He always gave his all, whether starting or coming off the bench,” Rush said. “He never sought the spotlight, and that was true both on and off the field. He’ll be missed just as much for the kind of person he was as for his impact on the pitch for Liverpool and Portugal.”
Rush also expressed sympathy for the Liverpool squad, acknowledging the emotional toll this loss will take on them as they prepare to return to training under new manager Arne Slot.
“They’re expected to carry on as normal,” he said, “but at the end of the day, they’re human. They feel grief just like anyone else.”
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