Luis Diaz has broken his silence following the backlash over his absence at Diogo Jota’s funeral. The Colombian winger has come under fire from Liverpool supporters after missing the ceremony held in Gondomar, Portugal.
While most of Jota’s teammates made the trip, Diaz cited commercial obligations as the reason for his absence. However, footage later surfaced of him dancing at a promotional event, sparking outrage among fans. His behavior was seen as disrespectful, especially considering that other players like Rúben Neves and João Cancelo managed to attend the funeral after flying from the US.
“I truly had tears in my eyes”
Speaking to Colombian outlet WinSportsTV, Diaz paid tribute to Jota and attempted to clarify his position: “It’s very hard to receive such news, very sad. No one is prepared for something like this. He was a key figure when I arrived at Liverpool—his family welcomed me, and we became close friends. We had a healthy rivalry, and it meant a lot to me.”
He added: “I want to send all my strength to his family, his wife, and children. They must be suffering deeply. When I woke up and saw the news, I truly had tears in my eyes. He once did something very kind for me, and I’ll never forget that. May he rest in peace—I’ll always carry him in my heart, and his team will always remember him.”
Diaz is expected back in the UK on Tuesday for Liverpool’s preseason preparations. His statement comes as an attempt to calm the storm and honor the memory of his late teammate.
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