Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed on Thursday that forward Pedro Neto will decide whether to play in Friday’s Club World Cup quarterfinal against Palmeiras, as the Portuguese international mourns the tragic death of his close friend and teammate Diego Jota.
Jota, a Liverpool forward, and his brother were killed in a car accident in northwestern Spain on Thursday morning when their Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire.
Neto, deeply affected by the loss, was excused from training but chose to remain with the squad in Philadelphia.
“It’s a difficult moment. You feel helpless,” Maresca said in a press conference. “Pedro is more than sad, and we are all here to support him. Any decision he makes—whether to play or not—is the right one, and we will back him fully.”
Neto’s potential absence adds a layer of uncertainty for Chelsea, which is preparing to face a Palmeiras side featuring 18-year-old winger Estevao Willian, a player set to join the Blues after the tournament.
Estevao was signed last year for an initial 34 million Euros, with add-ons potentially bringing the deal to 67 million, according to British media.
