Diogo Jota's funeral – Heartbroken Liverpool pals in Portugal to pay tribute
A group of Reds players were met with applause as they walked the streets of Gondomar with their heads bowed on the way to the Chapel of Resurrection, where their late team-mate lay. Van Dijk led the group, which also included Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Federico Chiesa and Arne Slot.
Meanwhile, former players Caoimhin Kelleher, Jordan Henderson and James Milner also attended in the evening, while Darwin Nunez paid his respects earlier in the day. Jota and Silva's funeral is set to take place at 10am on Saturday, with priest Jose Manuel Macedo overseeing the funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar catholic church, reports the Mirror.
Portugal's president, Marcelo de Sousa has also confirmed that he will be in attendance. A private wake was attended by Jota's wife Rute Cardoso, who he married last month, as well their family, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, FC Porto President Andre Villas-Boas and Jota's long-time agent Jorge Mendes.
Friday saw hundreds of mourners line the streets of Gondomar to pay their respects. Van Dijk vowed to support his team-mate's family, as he shared his feelings on the late star on Instagram. He wrote: "Man, I can't believe it, I don't wanna believe it.
"Absolutely devastated and in total disbelief. What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man.
"You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids.
"I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family. A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it.
"We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it! Rest in perfect peace Diogo and Andre."
Robertson also provided a moving tribute to Jota, writing: "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."
Liverpool manager Slot also offered his thoughts, adding: "Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be."
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The Liverpool squad were united in their grief as they said farewell to team-mate Diogo Jota at the forward's funeral in Portugal on Saturday. A service for the 28-year-old father-of-three, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso almost a fortnight ago, and his brother Andre Silva was held at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, following their deaths in a car crash on Thursday. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson each carried a floral tribute in the shape of a red shirt bearing the respective numbers of the two brothers. Head coach Arne Slot and the majority of the squad were present, as were Michael Edwards – the man who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020 when he was sporting director and is now chief executive of football for owners Fenway Sports Group – current sporting director Richard Hughes and head of physiotherapy Lee Nobes, who would have spent many hours with the player during his injury lay-offs. 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[ Diogo Jota death: Irish international Caoimhín Kelleher pays tribute to 'one of my closest friends in football' Opens in new window ] Many of Jota's former team-mates were present, including ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who on Friday laid flowers at the makeshift shrine outside Anfield; James Milner; Thiago Alcantara, who signed in the same transfer window as Jota; Caoimhin Kelleher; Fabinho; and former Wolves and Portugal team-mate Joao Moutinho. Rute Cardoso leans on the arm of Ruben Neves, football player for Alhilal Saudi Club and the Portugal national team, as the coffin of Diogo Jota is carried out. Photograph: Octavio Passos/Getty Liverpool manager Arne Slot the funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Photograph: PA Wire James Milner after the funeral Photograph: PA Wire Manchester City's Portuguese duo Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, another international colleague, were also there, while his best friend Ruben Neves was a pallbearer, having flown in from Florida after playing for Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup on Friday night. Jota's former Wolves boss, who is now Nottingham Forest head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, also attended the service. 'I can't even imagine the pain of the family, of Rute, of the children, of the parents,' Silva told Portuguese broadcaster TVI. 'I must talk a little about Jota, who was a great friend to all of us. His career, although not the most important thing, speaks for itself. 'More important than that, as a person, the memories that remain. Jota will remain in our hearts forever. He will always be present at all breakfasts, lunches, dinners, national team gatherings, PlayStation or card games. 'It is a very tough episode for all of us, because we spent a lot of time together. The memories I have with him are fantastic. These happy memories will remain, he will be present in every victory. 'We were rivals and team-mates for many years. He became a great friend. He was present at my wedding. Unfortunately, I wasn't at his, because I was at the Club World Cup. It is a family that will always be with us and that we will try to preserve.' Nuno Espirito Santo, manager of Nottingham Forest, with wife Sandra Espirito Santo. Photograph: Octavio Passos/Getty Wreath in shape of football jerseys are displayed at the entrance of the cemetery after the funeral ceremony. Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Tributes at Anfield Stadium. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Wire Players from Penafiel, the team for whom Jota's brother played, also attended. A wake was held on Friday for the pair before the coffins were carried into church on Saturday morning followed by mourners, led by Jota's wife and family. After the service, which was broadcast to hundreds standing outside, they were taken to the cemetery next to the church for a private ceremony. A seventh-day mass will be held on Wednesday. Jota's national team manager Roberto Martinez, who was also in attendance, said: 'They are really sad days, as you can imagine, but today we have shown we are a very large but close family. 'It was essential for us that, [with] Andre Silva and Diogo Jota, we are together and we will always be together and their spirit will be with us forever. 'Thank you very much for your messages, for your support and everything that we have received [from] all over the world. It means a lot and, today, we are all one football family.' Reports say that Liverpool have committed to paying out the remainder of Jota's two-year contract to his family. Everton manager David Moyes and assistant Alan Irvine lay a tribute at Anfield Stadium. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Wire Tributes continue to be left at Anfield, where Everton manager David Moyes and assistant Alan Irvine laid flowers on Saturday with the message: 'With heartfelt sympathy, from David Moyes and everyone at Everton Football Club.' Manchester City-supporting brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher paid their own tribute at Oasis' comeback gig at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday night when, during the final bars of Live Forever, a picture of Jota was displayed to cheers and applause. – PA
