The football world is still reeling from the heartbreaking death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva.
The pair tragically lost their lives on July 3 while driving through northern Spain in a striking green Lamborghini Huracán.
For their family, the pain hasn’t eased. Jota’s grandfather, Fernando Silva, has now spoken out for the first time about how he learned the devastating news — in the most unexpected way possible.
News No Family Should Hear This Way
Fernando shared that he was simply watering plants when his son-in-law urged him to come inside.
Sitting down in front of the television, he was hit with the gut-wrenching announcement that his grandson had died.
At first, he only heard about Diogo, but soon discovered both brothers were gone.
His wife, Deolinda, was informed in the presence of a doctor to ensure she wouldn’t collapse from the shock.
A Family’s Double Heartbreak
For Fernando and Deolinda, losing not just one but two grandsons in the same moment has been overwhelming.
“If one had died, it would have been very sad,” Deolinda admitted, “but both going like this is truly heartbreaking.”
They now live with the grief daily, constantly replaying memories of the brothers.
Life Turned Upside Down for Rute
The timing of the crash has made the tragedy even more painful.
Less than two weeks before, Jota had married his longtime love, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three young children.
Now widowed, Rute has left Liverpool and returned home to Gondomar, near Porto, where family members are rallying around her.
She currently stays with her sister, while her children are also being cared for by relatives.
The Last Words Between Grandfather and Grandson
Fernando still remembers his final phone call with Diogo just a day before the accident.
“Grandad, I’m like you,” Jota had told him, speaking of their shared love for football.
It was a simple phrase, but now it lingers as a treasured memory that Fernando holds close to his heart.
Questions That Remain Unanswered
Despite the media coverage and police updates, Fernando admits he still doesn’t know exactly how the crash happened.
Spanish police initially reported that Jota was driving and that speeding may have been a factor.
Locals near the crash site in Zamora have also criticized the poor condition of that stretch of road.
A full police report is expected to be submitted to a Spanish judge, though it is unclear whether the findings will be released publicly.
Football’s Touching Tributes
Since the tragedy, tributes to Jota and André have poured in from across Europe.
Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and other clubs have honored his memory with emotional gestures.
Just last month, Rute broke down in tears as Wolves remembered her late husband at their home ground, Molineux.
A Legacy That Lives On
For his family, friends, and fans, Diogo Jota will never just be remembered as a football star, but as a husband, father, and grandson who meant the world to those closest to him.
Fernando summed it up simply: “They are always with me in my thoughts, every day.”