Klopp mourns Diogo Jota: “There must be a bigger purpose, but I can’t see it”

Former Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has broken his silence after the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his younger brother, Andre.

Jota, 28, and Andre, 26, died in a car accident on Thursday, July 3, in northern Spain after their vehicle veered off the road and caught fire.

Reacting in a touching Instagram post, Klopp said he was heartbroken and struggling to understand the loss.

“This is a moment where I struggle. There must be a bigger purpose. But I can’t see it,” he wrote.

“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father.

We will miss you so much. All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them. Rest in peace – Love.”

Jota had just married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, less than two weeks before the crash. He was a father of three.

The Portugal international had shared a video from the wedding on Instagram, calling it “a day we will never forget.”

The late striker joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 for £45 million and scored 65 goals in 182 matches. He helped the Reds win the FA Cup and League Cup and was part of the squad that came close to a quadruple in 2022.

Klopp, who coached Jota for most of his Liverpool career, once called him “an exceptional player, exceptional boy.”

Tributes have continued to pour in, with Cristiano Ronaldo also describing the news as painful.

“It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the national team… Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre,” Ronaldo said.

Jota won 49 caps for Portugal and played in the team’s recent UEFA Nations League triumph.