Liverpool players joined the family of Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota for his funeral on Saturday, following his death alongside his brother in a car crash in Spain. The father-of-three had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso just 11 days before the tragic accident.
The coffins of Jota and his brother Andre Silva were carried into Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church in the town of Gondomar near Porto on Saturday morning. A church bell tolled and crowds applauded as the brothers' coffins were brought into the church, with mourners supporting each other as they followed.
Liverpool squad pays respects
Liverpool manager Arne Slot attended the service alongside captain Virgil Van Dijk and several team-mates including Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez. Some of the players carried wreaths shaped like football shirts as they arrived at the church.
The funeral also drew Portugal international team-mates including Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City, and Joao Felix and Renato Veiga of Chelsea. Nelson Semedo from Wolves, former Liverpool players Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and Ruben Neves, as well as ex-Red Fabinho also attended.
Portuguese officials attend wake
Family and friends had 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 and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also present.
People held service sheets featuring pictures of both brothers, with the largest showing Jota smiling in his Liverpool shirt and making a heart sign with his hands. Porto FC president Andre Villas-Boas and Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez were also among those paying their respects.
Liverpool postpones pre-season
Liverpool postponed the return of their players for pre-season following Jota's death, with players past and present paying tribute to him and his brother on social media. A sea of floral tributes has 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. The club has shown its commitment to supporting those affected by the tragedy.
Fatal crash details emerge
Jota and Silva were found dead after their Lamborghini crashed on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. The car burst into flames following what police believe was a suspected tyre blowout in the early hours of the morning.
Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking. A source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed "a possible speeding incident" was being looked at, with pictures showing debris scattered along the roadside including charred parts of the vehicle.
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
