Comments come amid online speculation and false reports about the circumstances of the accident
The physiotherapist who treated Diogo Jota in the hours before his death has rejected speculation surrounding the Liverpool forward’s condition and actions prior to the fatal car crash that claimed his life and that of his brother, Andre Silva.
Miguel Gonçalves, a respiratory specialist who had been treating Jota for a partially collapsed lung, confirmed the 28-year-old was nearing full recovery and had been cleared to return to England for pre-season training.
The crash occurred early Thursday morning as the pair travelled through northern Spain on their way to catch a ferry in Santander, ahead of reporting back to Liverpool for preseason.
“There are things circulating online and even in the media that are absolutely false,” Goncalves told Portuguese outlet Record. “Diogo and Andre were not out partying. They were travelling at night because it was cooler, but they weren’t going direct. He told me that the journey would take about eight hours, but that they would stop at a hotel in the Burgos area to rest.
“Diogo was very aware of his professionalism. They were only supposed to arrive in Santander today, catch the boat and then go to England.”
Jota had postponed treatment earlier this summer to take part in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League campaign, where he helped the national team win the tournament for the second time. Goncalves said the decision was made with full awareness of the medical risks, and that Jota had responded well to post-tournament physiotherapy.
“The base of his right lung had collapsed slightly, but the recovery with post-surgery physiotherapy had gone very well.
“When I saw him yesterday, he was no longer in pain. He was in good spirits, happy to be heading back to Liverpool, and optimistic about the upcoming season.”
The comments come amid online speculation and false reports about the circumstances of the accident, which took place in Spain’s Zamora province. Authorities confirmed the cause was a tyre blowout, with no signs of impairment or recklessness involved.
Jota and Silva’s bodies have been returned to Portugal, with the funeral scheduled for Saturday. Fans have paid tribute at the stadiums of Jota’s former clubs, FC Porto, Wolves and Liverpool.
