Diogo Jota tragically lost his life last Thursday in a car accident alongside his brother, André Silva, and the wife of one of the Portugal star’s ex-team-mates has been forced to clear up some unfortunate confusion
The wife of one of Diogo Jota’s former Portugal team-mates has been forced to issue a clarifying statement after the tragic car accident that took the lives of the 28-year-old and his brother. Her husband shared a full name with Jota’s late sibling, André Silva, 26.
Mourning continues after the passing of Liverpool forward Jota and his brother, who were laid to rest on Saturday in their hometown of Gondomar, near the Portuguese city of Porto.
The service and public wake were attended by many of the Reds star’s former team-mates and peers, with constant flows of people paying their respects on Friday and Saturday.
In attendance to bid farewell to the brothers was RB Leipzig and Portugal star André Silva. The 29-year-old shared a name with Jota’s brother, and this initially caused confusion among some, who believed the Bundesliga ace had been a victim of the tragic accident.
Silva’s wife, Maria Rodrigues, took to social media on Sunday, revealing she had received messages that expressed concern for her husband and sadly explained the situation.
“I have been receiving many kind and concerned messages lately,” penned Rodrigues via her Instagram story. “There seems to have been some confusion regarding the recent devastating news.
“I want to clarify that this information is not about my husband, André Silva. Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy. We are thinking of them at this incredibly difficult time.”
Silva, who finished his youth career with Porto, was born in Baguim do Monte, a local parish in Gondomar, where Jota and his brother called home.
He soon broke into the Portuguese giant’s first team and sealed a £35million transfer to AC Milan in 2017. Loan spells with Sevilla and Frankfurt followed before he joined the German side permanently in 2020.
A year later, Silva signed for his current club, Leipzig, and has endured loan moves to Real Sociedad and Werder Bremen in recent campaigns.
The 29-year-old was present in Gondomar on Friday alongside his wife, Rodrigues, to pay his respects to his former team-mate and lay some flowers at the Chapel of the Resurrection.
Silva, who also played with Jota at club level for Porto 29 times, combining for seven goals, issued a statement on social media after news of the car accident broke.
“I cannot believe it,” Silva began. “We take every day for granted, but life can be brutally fragile. There are no words that will ever do. This doesn’t make sense. Only pain and silence weigh.
“We shared moments on and off the field, laughter, sacrifices, victories, simple conversations that gain more weight today. You will always be with us, in everything we were and are. You’ll always be part of us. Rest in peace, Jota and Andre.”
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