Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a horrific car accident in the Spanish city of Zamora last Thursday morning, causing deep grief in football circles around the world.
New details have emerged in recent hours about the causes of the accident, and the reasons for Jota and his brother’s presence on the Spanish-Portuguese border in the first place.
Jota suffered a severe chest injury during Liverpool’s match against Chelsea last season in the Premier League, which prompted a doctor to warn him against flying. It is believed the player and his brother were on their way to the port of Santander to board a ferry to England, in preparation for Diogo’s start of training with Liverpool in a few days.
Meanwhile, Spanish police reported that a tire burst on the Lamborghini car Jota and his brother were driving during an overtaking attempt, causing the car to swerve and roll, then burst into flames. The car’s identities were unclear, and it took hours for DNA testing to identify Diogo Jota and his brother. The car’s license plate also helped identify the pair.
Liverpool Football Club announced that it would retire the number 20 shirt in memory of the 28-year-old player. Large numbers of Reds fans gathered at the club’s headquarters, carrying flowers and paying tribute to Jota and his brother.
