Diogo Jota Liverpool contract gesture confirmed in emotional Arne Slot interview
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Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, paid out Diogo Jota’s contract in full to the Portuguese’s family following his tragic passing at the start of July.
The forward was killed in a car crash, along with his brother, Andre Silva, when travelling across Spain in order to catch a ferry to return to the United Kingdom for the start of pre-season.
Jota had two years left on his Reds contract at the time of his passing, with reports in Portugal earlier this summer claiming that the club would honour the entirety of his contract.
It’s unbelievable what our fans have done.
“And our players as well, the way they have conducted themselves in and around the funeral.
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, alluded to how the club had taken steps to support Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, in a recent appearance on The Overlap US earlier this month.
“He was an extraordinary person," he said.
He was beloved because he was genuinely kind.
“I found him incredibly curious.
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The shock death of Jota prompted an outpouring of grief and emotion in the footballing community, with Liverpool paying a number of tributes to Jota since his passing.
The Reds retired the forward’s number 20 shirt in his memory across all levels at the club.
They have also commissioned a memorial sculpture at Anfield, to be produced from recycled items from supporters tributes laid at the memorial site at the club’s stadium throughout the summer.
Other tributes include a ‘Forever 20’ emblem being embroidered on the players’ kits and warm-up jackets, a new grassroots football programme being set up in Jota’s name.
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Meanwhile, Liverpool also paid tribute to Jota and Silva throughout pre-season in emotional scenes before every game, including floral tributes and minute silences, while supporters continue to remember the Portuguese by singing his popular chant in the 20th minute of every match.