Everton striker Beto has paid tribute to his compatriot Diogo Jota, revealing the late Liverpool and Portugal forward was the first person to text him following his move to Merseyside. The footballing world was left devastated after Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 25, tragically died in a car crash in the Spanish province of Zamora in July.

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  Beto presented floral tribute to Jota in the wake of the tragedy

  In the wake of the tragedy, Beto – alongside then-Everton player and fellow Portuguese Youssef Chermiti – joined Toffees ambassador Ian Snodin as they presented a floral tribute outside Anfield in memory of both Diogo and Andre.

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  Beto pays tribute to Jota ahead of Merseyside derby on Saturday

  And ahead of the first Merseyside derby of the 2025-26 season between Liverpool and Everton on Saturday afternoon, Beto has opened up about how Jota went out of his way to welcome him to the city after he joined the Blues from Udinese in 2023.

• Beto reveals heartwarming Jota gesture after joining Everton

  In quotes carried by the Liverpool Echo, Beto reflected on Jota's death, saying: “That day, 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.

  “I was shocked. I was shocked because Diogo was a really good guy. We were not friends, but you know, when you play against Portuguese players and everything, we normally stop, we speak a little bit. You have Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, these guys, but when I signed for Everton, he was the first guy who texted me.

  “He just texted me and said: ‘I'm happy for you. I'm happy for you. If you need anything on the city, everything, I can help you, just give me a shout'.

  “After every game that we play against Liverpool, we’d talk a little bit. We were not best friends, you know, but we talk a little bit, he was a really, really good guy. I’d ask: ‘how is everything?’ 

  “It was sad. It was really sad.”

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• Jota scored final goal for Liverpool against Everton in 2025

  Jota scored his final goal for Liverpool in last season's Merseyside derby at Anfield on April 2. The striker netted the only goal of the game as the Reds secured a crucial three points en route to claiming the 2024-25 Premier League title.