Andy Robertson has recalled how Diogo Jota enjoyed the “happiest day of his life” just weeks before his death – as he married his long-term partner in his native Portugal.
The 28-year-old was killed alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in the early hours of Thursday morning after being involved in a road traffic accident in the Zamora region of Spain.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 1am on Thursday morning, with the vehicle heading towards nearby Benavente.
Local reports have claimed the accident was the result of a blown-out tyre.
On Thursday night, Liverpool defender Robertson was the latest to do so as he hailed the Portugal international and team-mate of five years as “the bloke I loved and will miss like crazy”.
Writing on Instagram, Robertson said: “The ones I’m thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear. I’m so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls – Diogo and Andre.
“For the team and the Club, we’ll try to cope with this together… however long that takes. “For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy.”I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now. “It’s the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real.”Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun. “He was the most British foreign player I’ve ever met. “We used to joke he was really Irish… I’d try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota.
“We’d watch the darts together, enjoy the horse racing. Going to Cheltenham this season was a highlight – one of the best we had.”
The Scotland international also revealed that he attended Jota’s wedding ceremony in Porto on June 22nd when he tied the knot with his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso.
Robertson added: “The last time I saw him was the happiest day of his life – his wedding day. I want to remember his never-ceasing smile from that magical day.
“How much he was bursting with love for his wife and family.” “I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye. It’s too soon, and it hurts so much.
“But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better. “Love you, Diogo.”