Anthony Ferns, 43, of Prescot, Merseyside, told the Daily Express the news this morning is like a “disaster movie”.
Speaking next to the Hillsborough Memorial that honours the 97 killed in the 1989 stadium disaster, Anthony choked back tears as he told us they should retire the club’s No.20 shirt Jota wore in tribute to the star.
He told us: “I live 10 minutes away and rushed over when I heard the news. I still can’t believe it. It’s like something from a disaster movie.
“He had only just got married and had kids. Now his wife’s a widow. It’s truly awful. His parents have also not just lost Diogo but his brother too. They have lost both boys. My heart goes out to them.
“The club is amazing and at moments of crisis like this they come into their own.
“I was there at the parade and the club really supported the fans. They will do that again.
“The first home game of the season will be all about Jota and rightly so. The fans will want to show his family how much he meaned to us and how much we loved him.
“Now I think the club should honour him straight away and retire the No.20 shirt he wore. That would be a fitting tribute. That shirt was his and he wore it with pride. You Never Walk Alone.”