Diogo Jota funeral: Wife and family joined by Liverpool players in Portugal | Football News

Diogo Jota’s wife and family were joined by Liverpool players for the funeral of the forward and his brother, Andre Silva, in Portugal following their deaths in a car crash in Spain.

The father-of-three, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, died alongside his brother after a Lamborghini they were travelling in burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The coffins of Jota and Silva were carried into Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church in the town of Gondomar near Porto on Saturday morning, followed by mourners.

A church bell tolled and crowds applauded as the brothers’ coffins were carried into the church, followed by mourners, some with their arms around each other.

Others seen arriving at the church included Reds head coach Arne Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk and team-mates including Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot in attendance at Diogo Jota's funeral
Image:
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was in attendance

Liverpool players past and present were in attendance at Diogo Jota's funeral
Image:
Liverpool players past and present were in attendance

Darwin Nunez (left) and Federicio Chiesa (right) were in attendance at Diogo Jota's funeral
Image:
Jota’s Liverpool team-mates Darwin Nunez (left) and Federico Chiesa (right) were in attendance

Also at the funeral for the Portugal international were his national team-mates Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City, Joao Felix and Renato Veiga of Chelsea, Nelson Semedo from Wolves, Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and Ruben Neves, as well as former Liverpool player Fabinho, Porto president Andre Villas-Boas and Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.

Bruno Fernandes was in attendance at Diogo Jota's funeral
Image:
Jota’s Portugal team-mate Bruno Fernandes was in attendance

Ruben Dias was in attendance at Diogo Jota's funeral
Image:
Jota’s Portugal team-mate Ruben Dias was in attendance

Bernardo Silva was in attendance at Diogo Jota's funeral
Image:
Jota’s Portugal team-mate Bernardo Silva was in attendance

Joao Moutinho was in attendance at Diogo Jota's funeral
Image:
Jota’s ex-Wolves team-mate Joao Moutinho was in attendance

Some of the players carried wreaths shaped like football shirts as they arrived at the church.

“They are [have been] really sad days, as you can imagine, but today we have shown we are a very large, but close family,” Martinez told Sky Sports News.

“We are Portugal, and it was essential for us that [with] Andre Silva and Diogo Jota, we are together and we will always be together and their spirit will be with us forever.

“Thank you very much for your messages, for your support and everything that we have received [from] all over the world. It means a lot and today we are all one football family.”

Family and friends gathered for the brothers’ wake on Friday, with a queue forming outside the Portuguese chapel.

The brothers’ parents attended the Sao Cosme Chapel, the Capela da Ressurreicao, in Gondomar, with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Jota’s agent also there.

People held service sheets featuring pictures of both brothers, the largest one showing Jota smiling in his Liverpool shirt and making a heart sign with his hands.

Liverpool postponed the return of their players for pre-season following Jota’s death and players past and present paid tribute to him and his brother on social media.

A sea of floral tributes had been left outside Anfield, with many Liverpool fans and supporters of other clubs looking to pay their respects.

Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support.

Jota and Silva were found dead after the car crashed on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday.

Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed “a possible speeding incident” was being looked at.

Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle.

No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the incident.

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

Chelsea Squeeze Past Palmeiras to Reach CWC Semi-Finals

Estevao ‘Ready’ for Premier League Move, Says Palmeiras Boss

Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira believes teenage sensation Estevao Willian is ready to make the jump to Premier League football after bidding farewell to the Brazilian side with a memorable performance against Chelsea in the Club World Cup. The 18-year-old, widely regarded as one of Brazil’s most exciting young talents, marked his final appearance for Palmeiras

Onward State

Two Penn State Alum Make Premier Lacrosse League All-Star Game Roster

Enter a search term for instant results Enter a search term for instant results Aidan Conrad | Onward State Two former Penn State men’s lacrosse players were chosen to rosters in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) All-Star game on Saturday. TJ Malone and Matt Traynor will both represent Team East for the weekend, as Traynor

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x