Plans were quietly underway to bring Diogo Jota back to his roots in Portugal before his life was tragically cut short last week.
FC Porto president André Villas-Boas revealed the club had been in talks with Jota’s agent, Jorge Mendes, about a possible return in 2026—one year before his Liverpool contract was set to end.
This heartbreaking revelation adds to the pain of losing both Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, who died in a car accident on Thursday morning (3 July) while traveling back to England for pre-season training.
Villas-Boas reveals private conversation with Jota before his passing
At Jota’s funeral in Gondomar, where many of his current and former teammates gathered to pay their respects, Villas-Boas told Porto Canal that discussions had begun within the club about bringing Jota back for the 2026/27 season.
“We were working with Jorge Mendes on Diogo’s return to FC Porto, and sadly, it won’t happen,” he said.
He shared that he personally communicated the club’s interest to Jota at his wedding: “I made sure that Diogo heard about our intentions through Jorge Mendes. It was a dream that many Porto fans shared.”
Although Jota played only one season with Porto in 2016/17, his bond with the club clearly ran much deeper.
His brother André also came through Porto’s academy before moving on to Penafiel.
In a touching tribute, Villas-Boas announced that both brothers had now been made official members of FC Porto.
“Diogo wasn’t a member during his lifetime, but he became one today,” he said, adding that membership cards were left at the memorial site. “As for André Silva, we symbolically covered his membership dues and gave them to his family.”
Jota’s quiet legacy extended beyond football
Villas-Boas described Jota as “a silent hero… someone deeply admired and remembered fondly, just like his brother.”
He had also partnered with Porto’s Esports division, maintaining close ties with the club and its fans even while playing abroad.
Though his return to the Estádio do Dragão will now only be imagined, the love and respect he earned throughout his career remain clear and enduring.
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