Liverpool reportedly plans to fly members of club staff and the squad out to Portugal for the funeral of Diogo Jota on Saturday.
The service will take place two days after the 28-year-old tragically passed away along with his brother, Andre Silva, in a northern region of Spain. It’s understood the siblings were traveling via car so Jota could board the ferry and travel back to Merseyside for the start of pre-season which was initially scheduled Monday.
A tire in Jota’s Lamborghini blew up, forcing the car to skid off the road and subsequently catch fire. The siblings were pronounced dead at the scene and a little over 24 hours later their bodies arrived in Gondomar, just outside Porto.
The wake took place in the Portuguese town on Friday, with the funeral to be arranged for Saturday. According to the Guardian, Liverpool has organized a plane for club players and staff to attend with the majority expected to be in attendance.
The report adds that Liverpool has postponed the return of its players to preseason next week across its senior and junior teams.
The club confirmed in a statement on Thursday that all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until next week, while a book of condolence has been opened at Anfield, in addition to an online version.
Tributes have been laid outside Anfield for Diogo Jota
Tributes have been laid outside Anfield for Diogo Jota (Image: Getty Images)
Tributes have been laid outside the ground, with Jordan Henderson among those to attend on Friday. He also posted a heartfelt message like several former players and the majority of the current first-team squad.
Posting a message on the club’s website, Arne Slot said: “All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.
“My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.
Arne Slot has paid tribute to Diogo Jota
Arne Slot has paid tribute to Diogo Jota (Image: Getty Images)
“My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.
“This is not solely a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole.
“For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.”