Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes took the buildup to Sunday’s clash with Liverpool as the opportunity to hail his late compatriot Diogo Jota, admitting that it will be a difficult and emotional occasion at Anfield this weekend.
Jota and his younger brother André were tragically killed in a car accident on July 3, creating an indelible rift in the footballing fabric which stretched far beyond Merseyside. Fernandes came through Portugal’s youth teams alongside Jota, forming a firm friendship with a reliably affable character even though they routinely found themselves on opposite sides in the Premier League.
There will be no reunion on Sunday, but Jota was still at the forefront of Fernandes’s thoughts.
“No, obviously, it’s difficult and sad not to have your national teammate there,” United’s skipper told Sky Sports. “Played many times against him, not only with the Liverpool shirt but also with the Wolves shirt.
