The remains of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva were transported to northern Portugal on Friday ahead of a wake in their hometown, as tributes continued to flood in following their tragic car accident in Spain.
A procession of hearses departed the morgue in Puebla de Sanabria on Thursday evening, heading towards Gondomar, located near Porto. This was the area where the brothers’ Lamborghini had skidded off the road and ignited shortly after midnight on Thursday. Authorities speculate that a tyre failure may have been the cause.
Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, who had recently wed the footballer, was spotted leaving the morgue and joining the procession, alongside Jota’s longtime agent, Jorge Mendes.
A wake is scheduled to be held at a chapel in Gondomar from 4:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service on Saturday at a nearby church at 10:00 a.m. local time, according to the mayor’s office in Gondomar.
On Friday morning, Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro visited the village to pay his respects.
The untimely passing of Jota at just 28 years of age has sent shockwaves through the football community, with heartfelt tributes flooding in from former teammates, clubs, political leaders, and fans alike. Outside Anfield, Liverpool’s stadium, supporters laid flowers, scarves, and heartfelt messages, many penned by children.
Football clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, which features a number of Portuguese internationals, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Real Madrid observed moments of silence during their training sessions for the ongoing Club World Cup in the United States.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca noted on Thursday that forward Pedro Neto was contemplating whether to participate in the quarter-final against Palmeiras on Friday, as he mourns the loss of his close friend.
Arne Slot, Jota’s manager at Liverpool, expressed his condolences in a statement released on Thursday, emphasising that his thoughts were with Jota’s family.
“My message to them is unmistakable – you will never walk alone,” Slot stated.
“The magnitude of shock for us as a club is profound. Diogo was more than just a player; he was a beloved figure within our fold. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate, and in every capacity, he held a unique place in our hearts,” he added.
Following his recovery from lung surgery to address a fractured rib, Jota was en route back to Liverpool by car, having been advised to refrain from air travel for up to six weeks, according to his physiotherapist, Miguel Goncalves, who spoke to broadcasters late on Thursday.
Goncalves reported that Jota was recovering well from the surgery for the pneumothorax and had intended to catch a ferry to the UK from Spain.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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