Mo Salah 'cuts holiday short' after Diogo Jota's death with Liverpool's return imminent

Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah is set to return to the UK on Friday, cutting his holiday short following the heartbreaking loss of team-mate Diogo Jota. Reports from Egypt state that Salah will return to Liverpool ahead of schedule, with a host of players scheduled to report for pre-season training on Tuesday, July 8.

A number of Reds stars are anticipated to return to Merseyside over the weekend as the football world continues to mourn the loss of Jota. He and his younger brother, Andre Silva, were tragically killed in a car crash on Thursday morning in Zamora, Spain.

It's believed that Jota was en route to Santander to catch a ferry back to England, following medical advice not to fly after lung surgery. Salah, who has been sharing regular holiday snaps on his Instagram account, has reportedly been spending time in Bodrum, Turkey, according to Turkiye Today.

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The Egyptian star has also visited Mombasa, Kenya, and Mykonos, Greece, but will now head back to the UK to start gearing up for the upcoming season early, according to Yallakora.

It's a devastating blow for Liverpool, who have gone from celebrating their Premier League title triumph to mourning the loss of one of their own. This was Jota's first title with the Reds, having joined the club just months after claiming their last crown in July 2020.

Jota, who was signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth £45million on September 19, 2020, had a close bond with Salah, reports Liverpool.com. The duo played together 150 times for Liverpool.

Tributes have poured in for Jota, though Salah has understandably chosen to publicly remain silent for now on his passing. Liverpool stars like Darwin Nunez, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and close pal Caoimhin Kelleher have shared heartfelt condolences.

Reds head coach Arne Slot, along with the owners Fenway Sports Group, also expressed their sympathy in a heartfelt statement on the club's website.

Striker Nunez added a touching note on Instagram, saying: "There are no words of comfort for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field.

"I send all my strength to his family, from where he is I'm sure he will always be with you, especially his wife and three children. May Diogo and Andre rest in peace."

Former team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold, now of Real Madrid, also mourned Jota's departure, posting: "It's so difficult to find the right words when your head and heart are struggling to accept that someone you care so much about has gone.

"Diogo, your family was your world. They were everything. For Rute, his children, and his parents, all of our hearts are broken. And for Andre as well. Brothers and best friends.

"When it's less painful, I want to remember Diogo with a big smile. So many laughs and happy moments. He was such a great team-mate and a true friend. Forever number 20. Rest in peace, Diogo."

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