The wife of RB Leipzig and Portugal striker André Silva has been forced to issue a clarifying statement after the tragic car accident that killed Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, also named André Silva. The 29-year-old footballer shares a full name with Jota's late sibling, aged 26, leading to confusion among some who mistakenly believed the Bundesliga star had died.
Jota and his brother were laid to rest on Saturday in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto. The service and public wake were attended by many of the Liverpool star's former teammates and peers, with constant flows of people paying their respects on Friday and Saturday. Among those present was André Silva, who paid his respects alongside his wife, Maria Rodrigues.
Rodrigues took to social media on Sunday to address the confusion. 'I have been receiving many kind and concerned messages lately,' she wrote on Instagram. 'There seems to have been some confusion regarding the recent devastating news. I want to clarify that this information is not about my husband, André Silva. Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy.'
André Silva, who finished his youth career at Porto and later played alongside Jota for the club 29 times, issued a statement after the accident. 'I cannot believe it,' he said. 'We take every day for granted, but life can be brutally fragile. There are no words that will ever do. This doesn't make sense. Only pain and silence weigh. Rest in peace, Jota and André.'
