The image of the eyes of the mind is one of the impulse and optimism. It is a small but sturdy frame memory where the ball is broken. Diogo Jota liked football.
It always shined when he saw him. But he was more than a soccer player. He was his father and son. Tragically, he also became a husband a few days before Zamora Edgina at the age of 28. Sadness is overwhelming.
Along with Liverpool and Portugal, the way to JOTA’s top was a little different from many colleagues. For Portuguese players with such potential, he was not part of the famous Benfica, Sports or Porto Academy when he was a young teenager.
But that’s not just that.
JOTA was still playing in a local club Gondomar when he was 16 years old. Three years ago, he told him and made a point where he actually modified the details. “I was not paying, but my parents.” He was still grateful and wanted it to make it clear.
“In Portugal, the situation is different from England.” In 2022 I played in a small club and we had to pay every month to play every month. In 2013, when I moved to PacOS (De Ferreira), I only started receiving money. “
Talking with PacOS coach Vasco Seabra, he provided insight into how far away Jota went in the Portuguese football. Seabra even had to send a letter to the Portuguese FA.
“I remember sending email to the national team U19 coach.” Seabra just knew. “It is his personality,” he explained. “Diogo is an amazing person. I’m definitely amazing, so I don’t talk about him as a player. But as a person.
“You will not think that really good players will not hear when they get the ball here or try to do something better. You may think it’s so good for them to play. That’s the opposite. The best player is humble and wants to learn.”
I once asked JOTA where I came from.
“This hunger has been with me since I can remember. When I was young, I grew up, and I didn’t play with a big team. I had a few team members who went to Porton or Benfica. I tried there, but never stayed. I was one of the better.”
modest. Self -recognition. drive.
It was also a fun conversation. JOTA worked at Adidas HQ in Stockport shooting for the launch of a new football boots, but it took time to sit down and talk with his career. He was a warm and attractive company and talked about more than just football.
He talked about joy and meaning in spending time with his family. Then he laughed. “I’m also waiting for FIFA 23. I just like that game.” He was the master of the Premier League players during the cane. “There is no rival.”
I rarely require a picture with the player. But I was with him.
DIOGO JOTA took a picture in 2022 in an interview with SKY SPORTS Adam Bate.
Mostly, I felt the privilege of witnessing his rise. It was in Porto with Leicester in the Champions League that Jota played in the body for the first time. He scored the fifth goal in Estadio Do Dragao, a few days after he turned 20 that night.
Possible career.
He arrived in British football next summer and joined the wolf.
He scored 17 goals in the championship season and clearly cut in the competition with Ruben Neves.
Initially, some people suggest that children in Portugal will not be able to cope with the cuts and propulsions of life based on fewer cities, especially in the second class of England, especially in West Midland’s prosperous cities. They didn’t know Jota. He accepted it.
When I was promoted to the Premier League, it took some time to adjust, but the change of position was the first hat-trick in British football with Leicester’s dramatic 4-3 defeat before scoring the winner with Chelsea by burning the December season.
He won MolineUX at Manchester United every two weeks. He fought against Arsenal. Next season, there were two more hat tricks in which Hattricks with Besiktas and Espanyol joined Europe’s prosperous championships.
Such success caught Liverpool’s attention. The fee exceeding 40 million pounds felt a great feeling for a player who did not guarantee the starting point of the wolf. But this week, President Jeff Shi, chairman of the wolf, said he regretted the sale. Liverpool found something.
Last year, according to a conversation with Liverpool’s former research director Ian Graham, he explained exactly what it was.
“He was a really interesting person because we were going back and forth with the video analysis department. We knew that he had not played wide in the formation, but the way he interpreted it made him look more similar. Liverpool Wide forward. “
For five seasons in Liverpool, JOTA beat everything to win British football and scored 65 goals in 182 games. There were injuries and strange droughts, but there were many important interventions that protruded in an important moment when Liverpool needed him.
Jamie Carragher once called him the best finisher in the club.
Another memory. In January, he went down to Nottingham Forest, and he scored an equalizer in 22 seconds after he came out of the bench and entered the field. In April, he won the winner with Everton in Merseyside Derby.
It’s hard to think about the fact that they are the last two goals. In addition to the pitch, there were many more. Still living life. If there is a comfort, it comes from the idea that he did more than a dream.
“I would not have believed that I could arrive in Liverpool,” he admitted in Stockport that day. But he did more than that. He made memories to cherish.
