Liverpool have been urged to retire Diogo Jota’s number following his tragic death.
The 28-year-old passed away in a car accident along with his brother, Andre Silva, while they were travelling from Penafiel in Spain when their car went off the road on Thursday morning.
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Tributes have poured in from across the football landscape as Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruben Neves and Jamie Carragher were among the many who expressed their shock at Jota’s sudden passing.
Liverpool, along with a number of Jota’s former clubs, also expressed their sadness at the ‘unimaginable loss’.
The reigning Premier League champions have now been called on to posthumously retire Jota’s Liverpool shirt.
He was handed the No. 20 upon signing for the Reds from Wolves in 2020 and wore the number throughout his entire stint at Anfield.
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It was the first time in Jota’s club career he wore the No. 20 shirt, having worn No. 18 and No. 19 throughout stints at Pacos de Ferreira, Porto and Wolves.
Liverpool supporter Turab spoke on talkSPORT Breakfast about his belief the club should consider the grand gesture.
“I wasn’t sure if this was true, but I jumped out of a meeting,” Turab said.
“It’s tough and I don’t know how to process it.
“My thoughts go out to his family, his young kids. I’m reading that he’s just got married a couple of weeks ago.
“It’s a tough one. Obviously the club haven’t said anything. He wears the 20 and we just won 20 (Premier League titles).
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“Personally, I just feel like they should take into consideration retiring his shirt.”
Another Liverpool fan, Jack, echoed Turab’s sentiment in an interview with talkSPORT outside Anfield.
“It’s horrendous,” Jack said.
“Everyone’s saying number 20 needs to be retired now. The shirt needs to be retired.
“He’s such a massive part of Liverpool’s history alone.
“I think it would be the highest tribute we could give him as a player, as a club. I think he deserves it, especially for what he’s done for the club.”
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Liverpool would not be the first Premier League club to retire a player’s number following a tragic death.
Manchester City retired Marc-Vivien Foe’s No. 23 shirt when he died in June 2003.
Foe collapsed in the second half of Cameroon and Colombia’s clash during the 2003 Confederations Cup semi-final.
Despite attempts to resuscitate him at the venue, Foe was pronounced dead later that day.
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At the time of his death, Foe had completed the 2002/03 Premier League season on loan with City where he scored nine goals in 35 appearances.
One of Foe’s goals proved to be the last one scored by City at Maine Road before they moved to the Etihad Stadium.
