Why did Mohamed Salah miss Jota's funeral?

Global football stars bid farewell to the late Liverpool star Diogo Jota at a solemn funeral held on Thursday in the Portuguese city of Gondomar, following his sudden death alongside his brother André Silva in a tragic car accident in northwestern Spain, sparking widespread grief among fans around the world. Mohamed Salah's absence raised many questions, despite Liverpool providing a special flight to transport its players. The Egyptian star preferred to avoid appearing at this sad moment, with no official announcement of the reasons for his absence, despite the special relationship he had with Jota on and off the field. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, the Al-Nassr player, was also absent from the farewell ceremony out of respect for the privacy of the occasion, according to some British newspapers. This was despite his strong relationship with his late Portugal teammate. The funeral was attended by an emotional number of Liverpool players, led by captain Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, as well as coach Arne Slot, who carried flowers bearing the number 20 Jota wore for the team. A number of Portuguese national team stars participated, including Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves, and Joao Cancelo, who could not hold back his tears during the minute of silence held during the Al Hilal and Fluminense match in the Club World Cup, which was dedicated to Jota. In a preliminary report, Spanish police confirmed that a flat tire caused the Lamborghini in which Jota and his brother were riding, which caused it to swerve and catch fire, leading to their immediate death, in an accident that shook the sports world. Condolences poured in from major clubs, players, and public figures around the world, expressing their love and respect for Jota not only for his footballing brilliance, but also for his humble and loving personality.