Soccer-Neto grieves Jota's death as Chelsea face Palmeiras in Club World Cup


Flowers lie on photographs of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, outside Gondomar stadium in Gondomar, Portugal, July 3, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) -Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed on Thursday that forward Pedro Neto will decide whether to play in Friday's Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras, as the Portuguese international mourns the tragic death of his close friend and team mate Diogo Jota.

Jota, a Liverpool forward, and his brother were killed in a car accident in northwestern Spain on Thursday morning when their Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire. Neto, deeply affected by the loss, was excused from training but chose to remain with the squad in Philadelphia.

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