Premier League side, Wolverhampton Wanderers have paid homage to their former player and Old Gold, Diogo Jota who passed away alongside his brother, Andre Silva in the early hours of Thursday in the North West area of Spain, along Portugal borders.
Wolves brought Jota to England when they were in the Championship on loan firstly in July 2017 from FC Porto and eventually signed him permanently in January 2018 on a €14 million deal. The Old Gold would help the club gain promotion and win the Championship the same year with his 17 goals. He scored his first Premier League goal as Wolves came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Molineux stadium.
Speaking on Jota’s sudden demise, Matt Wild, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ director of football operations & administration, who worked closely with Jota when he was at the club was stunned about the news. Matt said:
We are all completely shocked. It’s such devastating news, not only for the passing of Diogo, which is just tragic enough, but to lose his brother as well.
Leaving behind his wife, his three young children and the loss of his brother, it’s so difficult to comprehend. It’s just so sudden, it’s such a shock, and I think it will take a lot of us some time to process and come to terms with it.
The impact he had at Wolves was huge. He was only here for three years, but what an important three years. To be part of that Championship winning squad that got us to the Premier League, then get us into Europe the following year, to being part of the European journey that we had.
Diogo embodied our values at the club. He was so humble, so kind, so professional, but yet determined and hungry.
Wolverhampton Wanderers chairman, Jeff Shi also could not hide his pain as he lauded Jota in his statement. He said:
Diogo was a top player and, for me, one of the top three players in the whole 10 years that Fosun and I have been here.
But he was also a nice boy who was very warm, very nice and always understanding, but he was also demanding.
He was a very positive and optimistic guy and he could even give the chairman confidence, but he was a guy with very clear ideas. Diogo will be sorely missed by everyone here at Wolves and our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Jota left Wolverhampton Wanderers for Liverpool in the summer of 2020 for a fee reported to be around £41 million after 130 appearances and three seasons at Molineux.
Similarly, the president of FC Porto, Andreas Villas-Boas declared that the club is mourning. Jota and Andre had spent time at the club during their youth football days. Andreas said:
This is a moment of profound dismay for the entire Porto fanbase and for all Portuguese people. Two young men tragically lost their lives, two men who represented FC Porto in an exemplary manner and who will be remembered not only for their football but also for their personal and human qualities.
To the family and friends of Diogo and André, still devastated by the injustice of their untimely loss, I offer my condolences. Football has lost two great men.
Softfootball had reported how other football clubs around in the world especially Premier League teams and the English FA had paid tributes to the Jota brothers.
Following the confirmation of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva’s death by Liverpool, football clubs around the world have began to pay their tribute to the Premier League and UEFA Champions League winner.
Premier League sides, former clubs and teams around the world began to pay homage the the Portuguese footballers on their social media handles and extending their consolations to the Jota family.
