Diogo Jota and Andre Silva funeral details released as brothers to be laid to rest
The funerals of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, are to take place in Gondomar, around 30 minutes from Porto, northern Portugal, at 10am on Saturday, July 5, it has been announced.
Local priest Jose Manuel Macedo had originally told they would be held at 4pm on Friday before confirming the date had been changed. It is understood the delay is due to minor issues with paperwork their relatives were attempting to resolve before their bodies could be repatriated.
Father Macedo said a wake would take place at Sao Cosme Chapel before the funeral mass at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar Catholic church next door.
Jota began his football career at a club in Gondomar, and it is also believed he met his wife there. It is not known yet whether the brothers' family will request privacy or allow the funeral to be more of a public affair, the Mirror reports.
Tributes to the pair flooded in throughout Thursday, with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, current boss Arne Slot and club legend Kenny Dalglish, as well as Jota's Reds teammates issuing statements after the tragic car crash near Zamora, north-western Spain.
Alexis Mac Allister shared on Instagram: "I can't believe it. I will always remember your smiles, your anger, your intelligence, your companionship and everything that made you a person. It hurts a lot, we will miss you. Rest in peace dear Diogo."
Dominik Szoboszlai wrote: "Words cannot describe how heartbroken and devastated we are... Your smile, your love for the game will never be forgotten. We will miss you so much, but you will stay with us forever, on and off the pitch. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Rest in peace, brother."
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Liverpool defender and Scotland captain Andy Robertson penned a lengthy heartfelt tribute of his own. He said: "The ones I'm thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear. I'm so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls - Diogo and Andre.
"For the team and the Club, we'll try to cope with this together… however long that takes. For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy. I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now.
"It's the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real. Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun. He was the most British foreign player I've ever met. We used to joke he was really Irish… I'd try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota.
"We'd watch the darts together, enjoy the horse racing. Going to Cheltenham this season was a highlight - one of the best we had. The last time I saw him was the happiest day of his life – his wedding day. I want to remember his never-ceasing smile from that magical day.
"How much he was bursting with love for his wife and family."I can't believe we're saying goodbye. It's too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate - and for making it better. Love you, Diogo."
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