Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot mentioned the “sense of shock is absolute”
Mourners are set to assemble to honour Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, an area parish priest has mentioned. The 28-year-old father of three, who had married his long-term associate Rute Cardoso simply 11 days in the past, died in a automobile crash in Spain alongside his brother Andre Silva after a Lamborghini they have been travelling in veered off the highway and burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout.
The pair have been discovered lifeless following the crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria close to the town of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. Jose Manuel Macedo, parish priest on the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, advised the PA information company in a translated message {that a} wake for the brothers will happen at 8am on the close by Capela da Ressurreicao earlier than their funeral on the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am.
Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot mentioned the “sense of shock is absolute” for the membership. “Diogo was not simply our participant,” he mentioned. “He was a cherished one to all of us.
“I might say a lot about what he delivered to our group however the fact is everybody who watched Diogo play might see it. Exhausting work, want, dedication, nice high quality, targets. The essence of what a Liverpool participant ought to be.”
Slot mentioned the participant “by no means sought reputation” however gained it anyway and was a good friend to everybody, in a position to make others be ok with themselves “simply by being with them”. He mentioned the final time they spoke he wished Jota luck for his upcoming wedding ceremony.
“In some ways, it was a dream summer season for Diogo and his household, which makes it all of the extra heartbreaking that it ought to finish like this,” Slot added. He recalled studying, when he first got here to the membership, of the tune Liverpool followers sang for Jota and mentioned he knew “right away” that meant the participant will need to have “particular qualities”.
“When the time is true, we’ll have fun Diogo Jota, we’ll bear in mind his targets and we’ll sing his tune,” Slot mentioned. “In the intervening time, we’ll bear in mind him as a novel human being and mourn his loss. He won’t ever be forgotten.”
The membership has opened bodily and digital books of condolence within the wake of the deaths, and supporters and members of the general public can go to the Anfield Highway Stand reception space over the approaching days to signal a message. The web guide might be discovered at https://www.liverpoolfc.com/membership/diogo-jota-supporter-condolences
Flags have been lowered to half-mast on the stadium and all membership shops, museums and excursions have been closed till Monday, with workers provided wellbeing help. The Portuguese Soccer Federation additionally mentioned it was “devastated” to study of the deaths, including: “Their deaths characterize irreparable losses for Portuguese soccer.”
Police mentioned they have been investigating the likelihood that the Lamborghini left the highway due to a tyre blowout whereas overtaking, and a supply from the federal government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed “a attainable dashing incident” was being checked out.
No different autos are mentioned to have been concerned within the incident. Footage of the aftermath of the crash confirmed particles scattered alongside the facet of the highway together with what gave the impression to be charred elements of the automobile.
Liverpool followers began leaving tributes outdoors Anfield on Thursday morning, with flowers being laid with messages together with “Thanks for every little thing, Diogo”. Jota was a part of Liverpool’s Premier League-winning facet within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, scoring six targets in 26 appearances.
He joined the Merseyside membership from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, profitable three main trophies. Portugal nationwide group captain Cristiano Ronaldo mentioned he needs Jota’s household “all of the energy on the earth” following the Liverpool ahead’s loss of life.
A translated model of his message on Instagram mentioned: “Doesn’t make any sense. Simply now we have been collectively within the nationwide group, simply now you have been married. To your loved ones, to your spouse and youngsters, I ship my condolences and want all of them the energy on the earth.
“I do know you’ll at all times be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre. We’ll all miss you.”
The Prince of Wales, patron of the FA, mentioned he was “deeply saddened” to listen to of Jota’s loss of life, including: “Our ideas are along with his household, mates, and all who knew him.”
Jota and his spouse obtained collectively in 2013, it has been reported, and have three youngsters collectively – two sons and a daughter who was born in November. He continuously shared footage of himself and his household on his Instagram account, whereas his spouse has posted photographs of their holidays in Dubai and Lapland.
In addition they have three pet beagles. On Wednesday, Jota and Cardoso, 28, posted video footage of their wedding ceremony, with the caption: “A day we’ll always remember.”
