Everton’s Beto recalls Jota’s gesture after move; tributes follow Diogo Jota’s death ahead of Merseyside derby

Everton forward Beto has revealed that Diogo Jota reached out with a supportive message after the Portuguese forward completed his move to Everton in the summer of 2023. Jota, who played for Liverpool, died in a car crash in Zamora, northern Spain, on July 3, along with his brother Andre Silva, at the age of 28. The tragedy triggered an outpouring of tributes from across football, including an Everton delegation that laid flowers outside Anfield in the wake of the news.

Beto told the Daily Mail that Jota was the first big Portuguese star to text him after he arrived in the city: "Of all the big names from Portugal that play in England, he was the first one to text me. The day I signed or the next day." He described Jota as "a really, really nice person" who was humble and well-liked among peers. "You have Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and he was the first guy, the first person," Beto said. "We were not friends but, you know, when you play against Portuguese players and everything, we normally stop, we speak a little bit. After every game that we play against Liverpool, we talk a little bit. I ask, "How is everything?" Not just because he was Portuguese, but he was a really, really nice person. Humble. And you can see what everyone says about him."

Beto said the news struck while he was at home in Portugal, ahead of a pre-season trip to Manchester. He recalled that Jota's message came as he prepared to link up with Everton's new squad in the city: "The day that thing happened, I was at home in Portugal. That day I would travel to Manchester to come here for the pre-season."

On Saturday, Everton face Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby of the season at Anfield. Beto said he expected a hostile reception despite the show of unity in the wake of Jota's death. "If I go to Anfield on a Saturday and they boo me it's normal," he said. "They're not going to be thinking: 'Oh, Beto is a good guy because he went to lay flowers for Diogo.' It's not the same. But when it mattered, when it was about life, they were there because they are human. I have respect for Diogo and the Liverpool community. I go there to play and to win and I will not try to have any action that shows them disrespect because when I went there, they showed me respect."

Jota's death prompted tributes from across football, including Liverpool and Everton fans sharing memories and condolences. The outpouring underscored a moment of shared mourning across a long-standing Merseyside rivalry as the two clubs prepare for a derby that doubles as a tribute to a former colleague and friend.