9 hours ago
11
To hear news of Diogo Jota passing away is both devastating and tragic.
My first memory of him at Wolves was just of his talent and the excitement he delivered each week playing alongside Raul Jimenez.
The way they played under Nuno Espirito Santo, they were incredibly successful and much of that was down to Jota's brilliance.
In Nuno's teams you are always relying on those front two to play together and link up and while he played as a centre forward, he was always an incredibly versatile player, not a typical No 9. He could drop deep, link things up and he always had that eye for a goal.
Jota arrived in England without the profile and headlines of some of his Portugal team-mates but within the game he was one who was always highly respected and highly regarded.
Not just for his ability as a finisher but also as player who could do the lot and be super versatile. He could play as a No 9, in behind, out in wide areas, and was always really consistent.
Diogo Jota had a knack of scoring crucially important goals during his time at Liverpool
He was an intelligent footballer that football fans soon fell in love with during his time at Wolves
He recently lifted a second UEFA Nations League title and his death in his prime is truly tragic
He was an outstanding player and losing him in his prime, it's tragic.
The outpouring of grief and emotion is no surprise whatsoever for a player that football fans across the world came to appreciate.
It's easy for fans to bond with intelligent footballers and that is what he was.
I always thought he was one of those players that was hard to pin down and when I say that I mean the variety of positions he played in. He was a drifter, elusive, would drift into areas to find the ball and he could link up.
His finishing, whether left foot, right foot, or a header… he was just really instinctive in the box and really intelligent as a footballer.
His reputation grew over here with what he was able to do at Wolves and while there were a few eyebrows raised when he went to Liverpool, he rocked up there and proved to be so valuable under Jurgen Klopp and as well for Arne Slot last season.
He always chipped in with important goals. He always had that knack, that ability, to change a game even if he was coming off the bench.
If you look at the variety of forwards they had he gave them something totally different. He was a player that was so different to others.
And if you look back to all his time at Wolves they have never really been able to replace him or his qualities.
Jota was truly one of a kind.
