Following the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in Spain, current and former Liverpool players and staff have traveled to Portugal to attend the funeral. The funeral is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot and captain Virgil van Dijk were among those seen in Portugal on Friday evening. Other Liverpool players, including Andrew Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister, and former teammates Jordan Henderson and James Milner were also present. Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo and Caoimhin Kelleher also joined the Liverpool delegation. The club reportedly chartered a flight to Portugal to transport the players and staff.
The brothers died early Thursday morning in a car crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria, near Zamora. Preliminary investigations suggest a possible tire blowout caused the Lamborghini they were traveling in to veer off the road while overtaking. However, authorities are also investigating a "possible speeding incident".
News of Jota's and his brother's deaths has prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the football world. Liverpool Football Club postponed the return of players for pre-season training. Many players, past and present, have expressed their condolences. Mohamed Salah, a Liverpool star forward, admitted he was dreading returning to the club following the tragedy. Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, said he was "heartbroken" by the news.
Prior to the funeral service, family and friends gathered for a wake at the Capela da Ressurreicao in Gondomar. The wake, initially private, was later opened to the public, with hundreds queuing to pay their respects. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and Jota's agent were among the attendees. Former Chelsea and Spurs boss Andre Villa-Boas, now president of Porto, where Andre Silva played at youth level, also attended.
Fans have also been paying tribute to Jota at Anfield, where flowers, shirts, scarves, and cards have been left at a temporary shrine. Liverpool is also planning a physical book of condolences for supporters to sign at the club. The club has also said the number 20 shirt, which Jota wore, will be immortalized in some capacity.
Diogo Jota was 28 years old and had just married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, 11 days before the accident. They have three children. The tragic loss has been felt deeply by the Liverpool team and the wider football community.