'You'll be in our hearts forever'

PREM STARS LEAD TRIBUTES TO JOTA

- MICHAEL HAM

PREMIER LEAGUE stars gathered in Portugal yesterday to say goodbye to their friend Diogo Jota after his death on Thursday, saying he “will remain in our hearts forever”.

The Liverpool forward and his brother died in a car crash as Jota was returning to preseason with the Reds.

The father-of-three, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, was buried in the town of Gondomar near Porto yesterday.

Manchester City and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva led the tributes, saying: “I can’t even imagine the pain of the family, of Rute, of the children, of the parents. I must talk a little about Jota who was a great friend to all of us.

"His career, although not the most important thing, speaks for itself.

His passion, will and determination allowed him to succeed in life and have a brilliant career.

"More important than that, as a person, the memories that remain.

Jota will remain in our hearts forever.