The world of soccer is in mourning after a tragic piece of news was reported. Diogo Jota, footballer for Liverpool and the Portugal National Team, has died at the age of 28 in a traffic accident in Spain. The Portuguese winger was on vacation with his brother André in the province of Zamora when the fatal incident occurred.
The accident took place at mile 40.4 (kilometer 65) of the A-52, near the municipality of Palacios de Sanabria. According to witnesses, the vehicle they were traveling in caught fire after the impact, and the flames even spread to the nearby vegetation. Emergency services arrived quickly, but they couldn't do anything to save the player's life.
Diogo Jota went through Atlético de Madrid, but didn't play
The news has shocked the world of soccer. Diogo Jota was a respected player, with an outstanding career at clubs like Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool. However, few remember that his career was also linked, albeit briefly and in a peculiar way, to Atlético de Madrid.
It all began in the summer of 2016, when Atlético decided to bet on a young talent who was shining at Paços de Ferreira. Jota had signed off on a great season in the Portuguese league, scoring 14 goals and providing 10 assists, numbers that caught Enrique Cerezo's attention. The Colchonero club paid €7 million for his transfer.
However, to the surprise of many, Diogo Jota never got to wear Atlético de Madrid's jersey in an official match. He didn't make his debut at the now-defunct Vicente Calderón, nor at the current Metropolitano. Just over a month after his arrival was made official, the club decided to loan him to Porto.
In Portugal, he played a good season, but upon his return to Madrid, the situation didn't change. Atlético loaned him out again, this time to Wolverhampton, a team that would end up shaping his career. In England, Diogo Jota excelled brightly, and Wolves decided to pay €14 million for his permanent transfer.
Thus, the young man who promised to make history in Madrid never got to debut with the Rojiblancos. His time at Atlético remained an anecdote, a fleeting stage in a career that later rose until he reached Liverpool. At Anfield, he was very much loved by everyone.
Today, that story takes on a sadder tone. Soccer says goodbye to a talent who, despite unexpected turns, managed to make a name for himself through hard work and goals. Diogo Jota is already a legend.