EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool Physiotherapist Reveals Jota Cancelled a Medical the Day Before the Crash, Saying “I Have Important Things to Take Care of First”
The football world remains in mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota, who, along with his younger brother André Silva, perished in a car crash in northwestern Spain on July 3, 2025. The 28-year-old forward, who had just celebrated his wedding to long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days prior, was traveling to Santander to catch a ferry back to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training. Now, in an exclusive revelation, Jota’s physiotherapist, Miguel Goncalves, has disclosed that the striker cancelled a critical medical appointment the day before the fatal crash, stating he had “important things to take care of first” before disappearing for nine hours.
A Tragic Timeline
Jota’s death sent shockwaves through the global football community. The accident occurred on the A-52 motorway near Zamora, Spain, when the Lamborghini he and his brother were traveling in suffered a tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle. The car veered off the road, flipped, and burst into flames, claiming both lives at approximately 12:30 a.m. local time. The Spanish Guardia Civil confirmed the cause as a tire blowout, with the vehicle catching fire shortly after. Jota, who had recently undergone minor lung surgery for a pneumothorax (collapsed lung), had been advised against flying, prompting the road trip to Santander for a ferry to the UK.
Miguel Goncalves, a respiratory physiotherapist who worked closely with Jota at Hospital São João in Porto, revealed to this outlet that Jota was scheduled for a final medical evaluation on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, to assess his recovery before returning to Liverpool. “Diogo was due to meet me at 11 a.m. for a check-up,” Goncalves said. “He had been recovering remarkably well. The base of his right lung had collapsed slightly, but with physiotherapy, he was nearly back to full strength. He was excited about the upcoming season and confident in his recovery.”
However, on the morning of the appointment, Jota contacted Goncalves to cancel. “He called me at around 9 a.m. and said, ‘Miguel, I’m sorry, but I have important things to take care of first. I’ll see you later.’ I assumed he meant family matters, as he had just gotten married and was organizing his return to England,” Goncalves recounted. “I told him to rest and that we could reschedule for the evening, but he didn’t show up. I didn’t see him again until dinner time, around 8:30 p.m., when I said goodbye to him and his brother André.”
The Missing Nine Hours
The nine hours between Jota’s cancellation and his final meeting with Goncalves have raised questions about the striker’s activities before the crash. Goncalves firmly denied rumors that Jota and his brother were partying, as speculated in some media reports. “I’ve read things online that are simply untrue,” he said. “Diogo and André weren’t in a ‘good mood’ life or celebrating. Diogo was a professional through and through. He was focused on his recovery and his return to Liverpool.”
Sources close to the family suggest Jota may have been handling personal matters related to his recent wedding or preparations for his family’s relocation to England. Jota and his wife Rute, who have three young children, planned for the family to fly to the UK later that weekend, with Jota and André traveling by road to Santander to catch a ferry to Plymouth. A medical appointment was scheduled in Liverpool for Monday, July 7, to clear Jota for pre-season training.
The decision to drive rather than fly was influenced by medical advice following Jota’s lung surgery. The procedure, delayed since May to allow Jota to compete in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League victory over Spain on June 8, was minor but required caution. “Flying could have posed a risk due to cabin pressure,” Goncalves explained. “Diogo was meticulous about following medical advice, which is why he chose to drive to Santander with André.”
A Professional’s Dedication
Jota’s professionalism was a recurring theme in Goncalves’ account. “He was an unparalleled professional,” the physiotherapist said. “He followed every instruction to the letter, and you could see it in his recovery. When I left him on Wednesday evening, he was pain-free and optimistic about the season ahead. He even told me he’d skip Liverpool’s pre-season tour to Japan to focus on strengthening his recovery.”
This dedication was echoed by those who knew Jota best. Liverpool manager Arne Slot described him as “the essence of what a Liverpool player should be,” while former manager Jürgen Klopp called him “a fantastic player, a great friend, a loving husband, and father.” Jota’s teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, in a heartfelt post on X, wrote, “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, and you had just gotten married.”
Jota’s career was marked by resilience and brilliance. After starting at Paços de Ferreira, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017, where he scored 44 goals in 131 appearances. Joining Liverpool in 2020 for £41 million, he netted 65 goals in 182 games, contributing to their Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup triumphs. His final match was Portugal’s Nations League final win, a testament to his courage in playing through his lung condition.
A Community in Grief
The crash has left an indelible mark on Liverpool and the broader football world. Fans gathered at Anfield to lay flowers, scarves, and tributes, with messages referencing the club’s motto, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” A minute’s silence was observed at the UEFA Women’s Euros match between Portugal and Spain, and Jota’s funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, saw teammates like Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, and Bruno Fernandes in attendance.
The mystery of Jota’s whereabouts during those nine hours may never be fully resolved, but Goncalves’ account paints a picture of a man balancing personal and professional commitments with unwavering dedication. “He was excited about what lay ahead,” Goncalves said. “He believed he was going to have a great season. That’s what makes this so heartbreaking.”
A Lasting Legacy
As Liverpool prepares for the new season, the loss of Jota, a player known as “Jota the slotter” for his clinical finishing, will be profoundly felt. The club has vowed to honor his memory, with captain Virgil van Dijk expressing the squad’s desire to pay tribute at Anfield. Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez, speaking at the funeral, said, “Diogo and André will be with us forever in spirit.”
Jota’s story is one of triumph, love, and tragedy. A father of three, a newlywed, and a champion on the pitch, his life was cut short just as it seemed to be reaching new heights. While the details of his final hours remain partly shrouded, his physiotherapist’s testimony underscores the professionalism and humanity that defined him. As the football world grieves, Jota’s legacy as a player and person will endure, a beacon of light in a time of unimaginable loss.
For more information on Diogo Jota’s career and tributes, visit Liverpool FC’s official website or follow updates on X.
