Diogo Jota's wife and Liverpool players visit sea of tributes laid outside Anfield
The widow of Liverpool and Portugal footballer Diogo Jota has visited the sea of tributes left outside Anfield, just over a week after his tragic death in a car crash with his brother Andre Silva.
Rute Cardoso was seen walking slowly around the mountain of flowers outside the Reds' home ground on Friday, July 11. The couple had only tied the knot less than three weeks before he died, and had three young children.
The team visited alongside head coach Arne Slot, with each member laying a single rose in remembrance of their teammate, the Mirror reports.
Liverpool FC announced their match against Preston North End will go ahead as planned on Sunday, July 13. It will be the first game since Jota's death last Thursday.
A statement issued by the club said: 'Ahead of the 3pm BST kick-off, there will be a rendition of LFC anthem You'll Never Walk Alone and the home club will lay a wreath alongside the away supporters.
"A minute's silence will be observed in Diogo and Andre's memory and digital tributes will be displayed on the screen and across pitchside LEDs. Both sets of players will wear black armbands. Preston have also created a commemorative edition of the matchday programme that features written tributes to Diogo and Andre.'
The brothers were driving towards the Spanish port city of Santander when tragedy struck, as Jota was unable to fly following minor lung surgery. They were laid to rest on July 5 in a service in Gondomar, near Porto in northern Portugal.
Thousands of tributes have been placed at Anfield and Molineux, the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers where he played between 2017 and 2020.
Billy Hogan, CEO of Liverpool FC, also visited the Anfield memorial site alongside members of the club's executive team.
Speaking to LFC TV, he said: "First, I would just say that obviously we're here today – and so many people have been here before – to just offer condolences and thoughts and prayers for Diogo and for Andre, and most importantly for their family.
"It has only been a couple of days but, as we all know, it has been just absolutely devastating. We're a club in mourning. We have all been completely shocked by the situation and, again, can only think of what this has meant to their family.
"What we see behind us and the overwhelming outpouring of support and emotion and grief and love – having a chance to walk down the row here and read the cards and read the messages, our anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone, it does mean something.
"In this case, I think everybody just feels so passionately about making sure that we remember the two boys but also that we support their family, and we're going to work through this together."
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Jota's teammate and Scotland captain Andy Robertson posted on social media following the tragic news: "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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