Diogo Jota's agent, Jorge Mendes, was seen in floods of tears at the mortuary where the bodies of the late Liverpool star and his brother were being held.
The 28-year-old forward and his sibling, Andre Silva, tragically lost their lives in a car accident. The soccer world was shaken by the devastating news on Thursday morning that Jota and his brother had died following a car crash in Zamora province, Spain.
Their Lamborghini suffered a tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver and crashed off the road, bursting into flames. Tragically, both Jota and Silva were pronounced dead at the scene.
Mendes, the renowned agent who has represented some of the biggest names in Portuguese football, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho, had been working with Jota since his Premier League days at Wolves.
After visiting the Puebla de Sanabria mortuary in Zamora, where the bodies of Jota and his brother were held until Thursday evening, Mendes spoke to the press.
"We lost two great people. Diogo is an example as a person, husband, son, professional. I still can't believe it, it's very difficult," Mendes said in tears, visibly distraught.
The bodies of the footballers arrived back in their hometown
The bodies of the footballers arrived back in their hometown (Image: Getty Images)
Accompanied by Jota's mother, Mendes made the journey to Spain to support the bereaved family. The brothers' bodies remained at the mortuary until Thursday evening before the hearses set off for Jota's native town of Gondomar, close to Porto in Portugal.
They arrived just before midnight to a sea of grieving supporters, many of whom offered applause as the vehicles pulled up nearly 24 hours after the heartbreaking accident.
Jota and his brother's funerals are scheduled for 10 am on Saturday morning, with a vigil planned at Sao Cosme Chapel followed by a funeral service at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
Numerous clients of Mendes and international teammates have expressed their condolences for the late Jota, including Portugal skipper Ronaldo, who posted on Instagram: "It doesn't make sense. We were just together in the national team, and you had just gotten married.
"To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you."
Jose Mourinho, currently at the helm of Fenerbahce, also made a statement: "The loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva is a great tragedy and an immense injustice for someone who was so young and had so much life ahead of him. I send my deepest condolences to all their family and friends."
Ruben Dias of Manchester City, who has shared many moments on the pitch with Jota for Portugal, conveyed his sorrow, stating: "I still can't believe it. You won your first Premier League, we won the Nations League together, and you got married. It doesn't make sense.
"We will not forget you, as a man, as a father, as a brother, as a son and as the tireless and talented teammate you always were on the field. May you both rest in peace."