'I ran Diogo's favourite coffee shop in Wolverhampton, he was very humble'

DIOGO Jota has been praised as a 'humble' individual who 'never said no to fans' by the owner of a coffee shop he regularly visited during his time with Wolves.

- BEN CRAWFORD

The 28-year-old lost his life in a devastating car crash on Thursday, along with his brother, Andre Silva.

The footballing world fell silent when the heartbreaking news emerged of Liverpool star Jota's death, which happened in Zamora province, Spain, and also claimed the life of 26-year-old Andre.

Tributes continue to flood in for the late Portugal striker, and one person who knew Jota and his wife Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children, exceptionally well is former Wolverhampton coffee shop proprietor Monica Ferreira.

Monica resided in the West Midlands for approximately six years, where she established her shop, Aromas De Portugal, which was located on King Street. Wolves' Portuguese players were regular patrons and Jota visited with his partner, having joined the club in 2018 before departing for Anfield two years later.

"I opened my coffee shop and he was one of the first customers," Monica told the Mirror. "Myself, I don't know too much about football, so I didn't know him in the first place. My husband, when he saw him, recognised him.

"He was a normal customer. He was very polite, very humble as well, like everyone knows. And he was very nice with everyone. After his first visit to the coffee shop, he was a regular. Every time he could come to the coffee shop, he was coming with his wife.