RIP Diogo

THE specialist who helped Diogo Jota recover from minor lung surgery has described him as an “unparalleled professional”.

Liverpool striker Jota died in a car accident alongside his brother Andre Silva in the early hours of Thursday morning.

BBC Sport has reported Jota was advised to travel back to Merseyside by ferry, rather than fly, following minor surgery.

Dr Miguel Goncalves, a specialist in respiratory physiotherapy, worked with Jota on his recovery plan.

Well-wishers view flowers, scarves and shirts at a memorial set up close to Anfield football ground for their Portuguese forward Diogo Jota in Liverpool on July 4. — AFP

“I said goodbye to him and his brother, Andre, at around 8.30pm (on Wednesday),” Dr Goncalves said in quotes reported by Portuguese sports newspaper Record.

“His brother was a great companion and decided to go with him, to accompany him on the trip, and that way they would also spend more time together.

“They were going to travel at night because it was cooler, but they weren’t going direct.

Nuno Borges of Portugal, wearing a black ribbon in his hat in memory of compatriot Diogo Jota returns to Karen Khachanov of Russia during their men's singles match on day five of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday July 4, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

“He told me that the journey would take about eight hours but that they would stop at a hotel in the Burgos area to rest. Diogo was very aware of his professionalism.

“They were only supposed to arrive in Santander on Friday, catch the boat and then go to England. The family would arrive later by plane, organise their lives over the weekend and then, on Monday, they had a medical appointment scheduled in Liverpool to assess the situation.

A picture of Jota is projected on a screen behind the British rock band Oasis during the first of their sellout comeback shows at the Cardiff Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on July 4. — Reuters

“I started working with him last Saturday and I was with him every day until this Wednesday. I said goodbye to him at dinner time.

“He made an extraordinary recovery, he was undoubtedly an unparalleled professional. He strictly followed what I told him, as you could see in the way he was recovering.

“The base of his right lung had collapsed a little, but with the post-surgery physiotherapy he was practically flawless. When I left him he was no longer in pain and was going to return to Liverpool.

Portugal players and staff display a banner in honour of Jota and his brother Andre Silva after the Women’s Euro 2025 Group B match against Spain at the Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland, on July 3. — Reuters

“He was excited, confident in his recovery and enthusiastic about the next season.

“He told me that he would not go on the pre-season tour that Liverpool is going to Japan to strengthen his recovery, he believed he was going to have a great season.” — dpa