Mourners gather for funeral of Liverpool star Diogo Jota in Portugal

RTÉ News​

2 days ago

Diogo Jota's wife and family have been joined by Liverpool players for the funeral of the footballer and his brother in Portugal, following their death in a car crash in Spain.
Jota, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, died alongside his brother, André Silva, after a Lamborghini they were travelling in crashed following a suspected tyre blowout in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The coffins of Jota and Silva were carried into Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church in the town of Gondomar, followed by mourners.
Hundreds of residents of Gondomar, a small town in northern Portugal where Jota grew up, gathered outside.
A church bell tolled and crowds applauded as the brothers' coffins were carried into the church, followed by mourners, some with their arms around each other.
Others seen arriving at the church included Reds manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil Van Dijk and team-mates including Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez.
Also at the funeral for the Portuguese international were his national team-mates Bruno Fernandes, of Manchester United; Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, of Manchester City; Joao Felix and Renato Veiga, of Chelsea; Nelson Semedo, from Wolves; Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and Ruben Neves, as well as former Liverpool player Fabinho, Porto FC president Andre Villas-Boas and Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez.
Some of the players carried wreaths shaped like football shirts as they arrived at the church.
The private service for family and close friends was presided over by the Bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda.
In an emotional homily addressed to Jota's family, Bishop Linda said "solidarity in love is always stronger than death".
Family and friends gathered for the brothers' wake yesterday, with a queue forming outside the Portuguese chapel.
The brothers' parents attended the Sao Cosme Chapel, the Capela da Ressurreicao, in Gondomar, with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Jota's agent also there.
People held service sheets featuring pictures of both brothers, the largest one showing Jota smiling in his Liverpool FC shirt and making a heart sign with his hands.
Liverpool FC postponed the return of their players for pre-season following Jota's death and players past and present paid tribute to him and his brother on social media.
A sea of floral tributes had been left outside Anfield, with many Liverpool fans and supporters of other clubs looking to pay their respects.
Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support.
Jota and Silva died after the car crashed on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday.
Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking.