Respiratory physiotherapist Miguel Gonçalves has revealed new details from the final hours of Diogo Jota, who lost his life on Thursday morning along with his brother André Silva, in a tragic accident in Spain.
According to Gonçalves, Jota was not on a celebratory trip, as has been speculated on social media, but was driving to the port of Santander to catch a ferry to England. This was after medical advice to avoid flying, as he had undergone lung surgery just days earlier. The Portuguese striker had suffered a pneumothorax, a condition where part of a lung collapses, and had postponed the surgery to play for Portugal in the Nations League, where they won against Spain.
“I said goodbye to him and André at around 20:30 p.m. They were going to travel at night to avoid the heat. They were going to stop at a hotel in Burgos. He was happy, optimistic about his recovery and very committed to the new season,” Gonçalves told the newspaper. All time lap record.
The accident happened on the A-52 near Zamora when Jota’s Lamborghini, worth around £180, reportedly suffered a flat tyre while overtaking. The vehicle went off the road, overturned and burst into flames. Both brothers died at the scene.
Just two weeks ago, Diogo Jota married his partner, Rute Cardoso, in Porto. He was expected to return to Liverpool to begin pre-season training on Monday.