Liverpool manager Arne Slot has announced that the club's owners will cover the last two years of Diogo Jota's contract, providing support to his fami
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has announced that the club’s owners will cover the last two years of Diogo Jota’s contract, providing support to his family after his tragic passing.
The 28-year-old Portugal forward died in a car accident alongside his brother André Silva on July 3, just 11 days after he married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso.
Reports from Portugal indicated that Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, had pledged to honour the remainder of Jota’s £140,000-a-week contract, which was set to last until 2027.
In a discussion with TNT Sports, Slot confirmed this arrangement, expressing his pride in the fans’ and ownership’s response. “Owners often receive criticism, like managers do, but their decision to provide Jota’s wife and children with his full contract payout is not a typical occurrence in football,” he remarked.
He also shared his admiration for the fans’ reactions following the tragedy, noting the numerous floral tributes and memorials, which left him feeling emotional.
He praised both the fans and players for their support during and after the funeral. Slot reflected on the challenges of continuing to train the team while being mindful of Jota’s family’s grief, acknowledging the difficulty of balancing those feelings with his responsibilities.
In honour of Jota, Liverpool has retired his number 20 shirt, and players from Chelsea have also contributed a portion of their Club World Cup bonus fund to support his family.
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