Liverpool boss Arne Slot confirms Diogo Jota contract gesture in emotional interview
Diogo Jota was tragically killed in a car crash in Spain in early July and Liverpool have been supporting his family in the aftermath of his tragic passing
Arne Slot has revealed that Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group, settled Diogo Jota's contract in full to the Portuguese star's family after his tragic death at the beginning of July. The striker was killed in a car accident, alongside his brother, Andre Silva, while travelling through Spain to catch a ferry back to the United Kingdom for pre-season preparations.
Jota still had two years remaining on his Anfield deal when he passed away, with Portuguese media reports during the summer suggesting the club would honour his entire contract. Slot has now verified this generous act while reflecting on the forward's death, disclosing that FSG had settled his contract completely to assist the player's relatives.
"Unfortunately we had to bring one player more in than we were... than what was the plan," he told Ally McCoist in an interview with TNT Sports. "That's why our spending was higher than intended.
"The grief of the city, that is what makes it for me so special to work at this club. To work at a club where there is success and there is a parade, of course this parade is bigger than any parade everywhere around the world.
"But the way they conducted, the fans themselves, after that tragedy. How many flowers there were, all the memorials, I can almost get emotional thinking about it. It's unbelievable what our fans have done.
READ MORE: Liverpool reward wonderkid Rio Ngumoha with first professional contractREAD MORE: Hugo Ekitike faces huge Liverpool fine after 'stupid' Southampton red card"And our players as well, the way they have conducted themselves in and around the funeral. And then we have to train again. And there are moments where I feel, 'What must his wife and his children feel now?'".
"Because it sounds so hard... our life continues. People expect from me that I prepared them forever. And that sometimes feels a bit difficult, knowing how hard it is for the family and for the parents. The phase they are still going through and will go through for the rest of their lives.
"I said how proud I felt about how the fans reacted but ownership... Owners are mainly criticised, like managers, but the way they've handled this situation, by paying his wife and his children all the money from the contract [is commendable]. Maybe people think it's normal, but it is not in football."
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner referenced how the club had taken measures to support Jota's widow, Rute Cardoso, during a recent appearance on The Overlap US earlier this month.
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"He was an extraordinary person," he said. "He was beloved, not because he was the leading goalscorer. He was beloved because he was genuinely kind.
"I found him incredibly curious. When I would have a conversation with him, we would talk a lot about gaming. When he did his goal celebration, he referred to that. He had an esports team and I think, by reputation, he was one of the best FIFA players in the Premier League.
"I only mention that because he had a certain breath of curiosity that drew people to him. He was extremely popular among his teammates, he was extremely popular in the dressing room.
"One of the things that I admired about him. He had a couple of tough injuries last year but he didn't mope around, he focused on how he could help the club and knew that he could have an impact even if he didn't start. And he did have an impact because he did have some late goals that were really quite important. He accepted his role in a graceful way.
"It's always a tragedy when someone dies before their time. But his death really did hit everybody because he was so beloved.
"It was immediately important to us that we reach out to his widow and to make sure that she understood that we are a family. It is a cliché but we do think of ourselves as a family and we wanted to make sure she was well taken care of financially, and her children..
"It's very important for us to demonstrate that, whatever happens, we care about the footballer but we care even more about the individual."
The devastating loss of Jota sparked an overwhelming wave of sorrow and heartbreak throughout the football world, with Liverpool honouring the striker with numerous touching tributes following his tragic passing.
The Merseyside club permanently retired the attacker's number 20 jersey as a lasting memorial. A sculpture at Anfield, crafted from recycled items from fans' tributes laid at the club's stadium throughout the summer, has also been commissioned.
In addition, a 'Forever 20' emblem will be stitched onto the players' kits and warm-up jackets and a new grassroots football programme is being established in Jota's name.
Liverpool also honoured Jota and Silva during pre-season with poignant moments before each match, including floral tributes and minute silences. Fans continue to remember the Portuguese player by singing his popular chant in the 20th minute of every game.
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