The tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva continues to send shockwaves throughout the football world. Among those visibly affected was Juan Mata, the former Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal midfielder, who expressed his devastation after learning about the fatal car accident.

What did Juan Mata say about Jota’s death?

During a public appearance in Manchester, where he was launching an art and football exhibition, Mata described himself as being “in shock.”

“Sometimes life can be incredibly cruel, and today it reminded us of that,” said the World Cup winner. Mata revealed he found out about the tragedy upon arriving in England: “I landed this morning, and when I got here, I received the messages. It’s unbelievable, really.”

A loss that has shaken European football

The fatal crash occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning on the A-52 highway near Cernadilla (Zamora, Spain). The car carrying both Diogo and André reportedly veered off the road and was completely engulfed in flames.

Jota, who had recently undergone minor surgery and was advised not to fly, was on his way to Santander to board a ferry back to England, where he was expected to rejoin Liverpool’s preseason under new manager Arne Slot.

The football community continues to pay tribute to the late forward, with an outpouring of messages honoring his legacy and sending condolences to his loved ones.