DIOGO JOTA TRANSFER PLAN WAS IN THE WORKS BEFORE TRAGIC DEATH

Porto president Andre Villas-Boas revealed a plan was in place to sign Diogo Jota, who would have turned 29 this Thursday

Diogo Jota could have made a sensational return to his homeland before his tragic death(Image: Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Diogo Jota was in talks with Porto about a potential return before the Liverpool star's fatal car accident. The Portuguese forward, who would have celebrated his 29th birthday today, was travelling with his brother Andre Silva in Zamora, Spain, when Jota lost control of his Lamborghini and crashed, killing both of them.

The incident sent shockwaves through the footballing world and happened just 11 days after Jota married long-term partner Rute Cardoso. During his time at Anfield, Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances, helping Liverpool win the FA Cup, League Cup and Premier League. He remained an integral member of the team but was offered a move back to Portugal.

Former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, who is now the president of Porto, revealed that a plan was in place for Jota to return to the club where it all began, prior to his tragic death.

Speaking at the funeral of the two young men, Villas-Boas said: "Unfortunately, we were working with agent Jorge Mendes on Diogo Jota's return to FC Porto, and it won't be possible.

"It would be from 2026-27, and we had discussed the possibility. I made a point of conveying that message to Diogo, through Jorge Mendes, at his wedding, and it was a dream for all the Porto fans that it would happen."

Paying tribute, he added: "Diogo has a history in the senior ranks, and Andre has many years from the children's ranks to the under-19s. They were much loved. We've come to pay our respects to the family. Diogo, especially as the greatest public figure, was a silent hero. We all appreciated him for everything he stood for, not only on the pitch but also off it."

Andre Villas-Boas arriving at Diogo Jota and Andre Silva's funeral(Image: Photo by FILIPE AMORIM/AFP via Getty Images)

He continued: "He was a partner of FC Porto with its Esports team. Someone who will be remembered fondly, just like his brother. Diogo wasn't a member [of the club], but he became one today. I hope that all FC Porto members understand this move.

"In Andre Silva's case, we symbolically recovered his membership fees and gave them to his family. We intended to leave the two membership cards here. I did it as chairman of the board.

"Condolences to everyone, to the team-mates from Liverpool, Wolverhampton, Gondomar and P. Ferrreira. And Penafiel, who also lost a great mate. It's tragic and deserves a moment of reflection."

- Dylan James

RUBEN NEVES ISSUES STATEMENT AS RELATIONSHIP WITH DIOGO JOTA'S WIDOW QUESTIONED

Ruben Neves criticised a Portuguese tabloid for questioning the nature of his relationship with Diogo Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso. Neves was one of several footballers devastated when Jota and his brother Andre Silva perished in a car accident just days after the Liverpool striker married Cardoso.

Jota and Neves were known to be good friends both on and off the ball, with the midfielder recently taking up the number 21 shirt for Portugal that his teammate formerly wore on international duty. However, the former Wolves player has been obliged to make a public comment after a magazine stoked rumours about his support for Cardoso following her husband’s death.

Neves Slams Portuguese Magazine Following Rute Cardoso Insight.

After publicly supporting Cardoso in the aftermath of Jota’s death, Neves became the focus of a bizarre story from TV Guia, whose front page featured a story highlighting the player’s support for his former teammates wife, accompanied by the caption “Ruben Neves and Rute United After Death.” How Diogo Jota’s widow relies on her best friend.

The anecdote was accompanied by an image of the two people standing close together, looking into each other’s eyes.

In response, Neves issued a statement criticising the work, saying:

“I always believe in the good in people, even if I’ve been advised not to. I’ve made mistakes, but I never wish anyone harm. The person who chose this photo for the magazine cover does not deserve to be pleased, because their choice was not a pleasant one. My wife, Debora Lourenco, and I have been together for over 11 years, and we are happy. We have a family that makes me proud, and we have never been in any kind of trouble.

“We have done our best to assist Rute and her family in the best way possible. This photo’s selection is as bad as the people who chose and uploaded it. I appreciate that everyone has their own work, that everyone strives to do their best, and that those who don’t respect others do not deserve respect.”

According to the statement, Neves is married to Debora Lourenco, with whom he began dating in 2014 and were engaged in 2018.

The couple has three children together—Margarida, Martim, and Mateo—and Lourenco has regularly shown her support for her husband on social media since his 2023 departure to Saudi Arabia.

- Talk2Soccer

DIOGO JOTA'S HEARTBROKEN WIFE RUTE CARDOSO MAKES EMOTIONAL VISIT TO LIVERPOOL TRIBUTE

Diogo Jota's widow Rute Cardoso visited the mountain of flowers that have been laid outside Anfield to pay tribute to the late Liverpool forward, whose number has now been retired

Rute Cardoso visited the tribute at Anfield (Image: getty)

The football world is in mourning as Rute Cardoso, the widow of the late Portuguese star Diogo Jota, visited a sea of floral tributes at Anfield on Friday. The heartfelt memorial has grown significantly since Jota, aged 28, and his brother Andre Silva tragically died in a car crash in Spain last week.

In a touching gesture, Liverpool players, alongside head coach Arne Slot, paid their respects by each laying a single rose amid the tributes.

Liverpool's key players, including Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo, joined manager Arne Slot in laying tributes outside Anfield, where fans have been gathering to honour the memory of the beloved player.

In a historic move for the club, it was announced on Friday that Jota's number 20 shirt will be retired by the Premier League champions, marking the first time such an honour has been granted in Liverpool's history.

Michael Edwards, FSG CEO of Football, released a statement saying: "As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way," confirming the decision to retire Jota's shirt number was made with the full involvement of his wife Rute and his family.

Edwards added: "I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club's history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person."

The club announced: "By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten. Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the number 20. As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20."

Liverpool players view tributes to Diogo Jota at Anfield (Image: gettyy)

Jota, aged 28, and his brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a car accident as Jota was returning to Merseyside for pre-season training.

The retirement of the shirt number will extend across all levels of the club, including the men's senior team, women's team, U21s, and academy teams, following discussions with Jota's wife, Rute, and their family.

The family and the club believe that this heartfelt tribute is an appropriate way to commemorate not only Jota's contributions on the pitch but also the profound effect he had on his colleagues, the staff, and fans alike.

Despite the sombre mood, Liverpool's fixture against Preston North End will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday, with coverage on ITV 1, as confirmed by Liverpool on Friday. This match will mark the first since Jota's untimely death.

In remembrance, the Reds have detailed plans for the upcoming game: "Ahead of the 3pm BST kick-off, there will be a rendition of LFC anthem You'll Never Walk Alone and the home club will lay a wreath alongside the away supporters."

A minute's silence will be held in honour of Diogo and Andre, with digital tributes to be displayed on screens and pitchside LEDs at the match. Players from both teams will don black armbands as a mark of respect, and Preston has produced a special edition of their matchday programme featuring written tributes to the brothers.

The Liverpool ace and his younger sibling were returning from Portugal after Jota tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart. The Anfield star was unable to travel by air due to a minor lung surgery.

Following the heartbreaking event, the brothers were laid to rest in Gondomar, Portugal, on Saturday morning. A wave of tributes has been placed at Anfield and Molineux, reflecting on Jota's time at Wolverhampton Wanderers from 2017 to 2020.

Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan, along with the club's executive team, visited the memorial site to pay their respects to Jota, hailed as an "incredible footballer and really good person".

In a heartfelt interview with LFC TV, Hogan expressed: "First, I would just say that obviously we're here today – and so many people have been here before – to just offer condolences and thoughts and prayers for Diogo and for Andre, and most importantly for their family."

He continued, "It has only been a couple of days but, as we all know, it has been just absolutely devastating. We're a club in mourning. We have all been completely shocked by the situation and, again, can only think of what this has meant to their family."

The football world is in mourning as tributes pour in for the late Jota, with an emotional scene unfolding where fans have left heartfelt messages and tributes. The anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' has taken on a poignant significance, as one insider reflected: "What we see behind us and the overwhelming outpouring of support and emotion and grief and love – having a chance to walk down the row here and read the cards and read the messages, our anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone, it does mean something."

"In this case, I think everybody just feels so passionately about making sure that we remember the two boys but also that we support their family, and we're going to work through this together."

Andy Robertson, a former teammate of Jota, shared his own personal grief on social media, saying: "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 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."

- Chris McKenna, Anders Anglesey