EXCLUSIVE: Diogo Jota’s father reportedly argued with him about “taking that car” 5 days before the crash
He hasn’t spoken publicly since — and may never.

EXCLUSIVE: Diogo Jota’s Father Reportedly Argued with Him About “Taking That Car” Five Days Before Fatal Crash

In a heartbreaking revelation, sources close to the family of Diogo Jota, the late Liverpool and Portugal football star, claim that his father, Joaquim Jota, had a heated argument with him about driving the Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder just five days before the tragic accident that claimed the lives of Diogo and his brother André Silva on July 3, 2025. The 28-year-old footballer and his 25-year-old brother perished when their high-performance vehicle veered off the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora, Spain, reportedly due to a tire blowout at an estimated speed of 212 km/h. Since the reported dispute, Joaquim Jota has remained silent, and sources suggest he may never speak publicly about the matter, overwhelmed by grief and the weight of the tragedy.

The Argument: A Father’s Concern

According to an exclusive source close to the Jota family, Joaquim Jota expressed deep reservations about Diogo driving the £180,000 Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder, a supercar known for its 602-horsepower V10 engine and top speed of 325 km/h. The argument, which reportedly took place on June 28, 2025, in the family’s hometown of Gondomar, Portugal, centered on the car’s suitability for the long journey from Porto to Santander, where Diogo planned to catch a ferry to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training. Joaquim, aware of Diogo’s recent lung surgery and medical advice against flying, allegedly urged his son to opt for a safer, less powerful vehicle for the 190-mile trip through rural Spain.

“Joaquim was worried about the car’s speed and the roads Diogo would be driving on,” the source revealed. “He knew the A-52 had issues—uneven surfaces, blind bends—and he didn’t think the Lamborghini was the right choice for that kind of journey. Diogo, though, was confident in his driving and loved the car. He brushed it off, saying he’d be careful.” The disagreement reportedly left Joaquim frustrated, but Diogo, described as headstrong and passionate about his supercar, insisted on taking the Huracán.

While the exact details of the argument remain private, the source indicated that Joaquim’s concerns were rooted in a father’s intuition rather than specific knowledge of mechanical issues with the car. The Lamborghini, a 2020 EVO Spyder model, was reportedly in good condition, with no prior indications of tire problems or other defects. However, the high-performance Pirelli P Zero tires, designed for track-like conditions, may have been ill-suited for the A-52’s rough patches, a factor that could have contributed to the catastrophic blowout.

The Crash: A Devastating Outcome

The fatal accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on July 3, 2025, when the Huracán, allegedly driven by Diogo, suffered a rear tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle at high speed. Spanish Civil Guard investigations suggest the car was traveling at approximately 212 km/h, far exceeding the A-52’s 120 km/h speed limit. The blowout caused the vehicle to skid, strike a guardrail, and burst into flames after rupturing its fuel tank. Both Diogo and André were pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a grieving family, including Diogo’s wife, Rute Cardoso, and their three young children.

Two Portuguese lorry drivers who witnessed the crash have disputed police claims of speeding, asserting that the Huracán was traveling at a “moderate speed” and that the A-52’s poor condition—described as dark, dangerous, and poorly maintained—played a significant role. “I’ve seen reckless driving before, but they were completely calm,” one driver, José Aleixo Duarte, told Funchal Notícias. Despite these testimonies, police analysis of skid marks and mechanical evidence points to excessive speed as a key factor, with ongoing investigations yet to be finalized.

The Huracán’s Design: Built for Speed, Not Rural Roads

The Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder is a marvel of automotive engineering, designed for F1-grade circuits with its aerodynamic body, all-wheel-drive system, and advanced stability controls. Its 5.2-liter V10 engine delivers unparalleled performance, but its low ground clearance and high-performance tires are optimized for smooth, controlled environments, not rural highways with uneven asphalt. The A-52 near Cernadilla, notorious for its faults, posed risks that even a skilled driver might struggle to mitigate at high speeds.

The car’s pyrotechnic door ejection system, intended to aid escape in rollovers, has also come under scrutiny. While no evidence confirms a malfunction in this case, previous Huracán recalls for electrical and structural issues raise questions about the vehicle’s safety features under extreme conditions. The combination of a tire blowout, high speed, and the road’s imperfections likely overwhelmed the Huracán’s otherwise sophisticated handling capabilities.

Joaquim Jota’s Silence

Since the tragedy, Joaquim Jota has not spoken publicly, and sources close to the family indicate he may never do so. The loss of both sons has left him and his wife, Isabel, in profound grief, compounded by the knowledge of the prior argument. “Joaquim feels like he failed to protect his boys,” the source shared. “He’s not ready to face the world, and he may never be. The pain is too raw.” The family’s focus has been on supporting Rute Cardoso and her children, who stand to inherit up to £35 million from Diogo’s estate, ensuring their financial security.

The funeral in Gondomar on July 5, 2025, was attended by Liverpool teammates, including Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson, as well as former players like Jordan Henderson. Tributes from figures like Cristiano Ronaldo and Jürgen Klopp underscored Diogo’s impact as a player and person. “It doesn’t make sense,” Ronaldo wrote on social media. “We were just together in the national team, you had just got married.”

Broader Implications: Supercars and Public Roads

The tragedy underscores the dangers of operating high-performance vehicles on public roads. The Huracán’s capabilities, while thrilling, demand a level of skill and caution that even professional athletes may not possess. Diogo, though an accomplished footballer, was not a trained racecar driver, and the A-52’s blind bends and uneven surfaces were a far cry from the controlled environments for which the Huracán was designed. This incident echoes other high-profile supercar accidents, where speed and road conditions have proven a deadly combination.

The football world continues to mourn Diogo Jota, a player who scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool and helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League in 2025. His legacy as a family man and athlete endures, but the reported argument with his father adds a layer of heartbreak to an already devastating loss. As investigations continue, the question remains: could a different choice of vehicle or a slower speed have changed the outcome on that fateful night?