Alisson Becker sends supportive message to the wife of Diogo Jota on the day of the Liverpool striker's funeral in Portugal
Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota with their respective families
Alisson Becker has told Diogo Jota's wife Rute that she "will never walk alone" in an emotional message on the day of the Liverpool striker's funeral in Portugal. Goalkeeper Alisson confirmed he is unable to attend the ceremony at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar (the Mother Church of Gondomar) on Saturday (July 5) as he remains on an end-of-season break in Brazil with his family.
Jota died in the early hours of Thursday, with his brother Andre, after the pair were involved in a car crash in northern Spain and tributes have been pouring in for both footballers since the tragic news was confirmed.
Their bodies were repatriated back to Portugal on Thursday evening before a wake was held at Capelas da Ressurreicao (Chapels of the Resurrection) church, in the Fontainhas neighborhood of Gondomar on Friday ahead of Saturday morning's service, which will be attended by several players and staff members from Liverpool.
Alisson posted a message on social media at around 5am UK time, accompanied by a greyscale image of the two players with their families, saying: "Usually, I post things that make sense, but today, nothing makes sense!
"Once again, an ocean separates me from 'saying goodbye' to someone I love! But I know that I am well represented by my club mates! To you, my friend @rutefcardoso14, just know that you will never walk alone, we will be with you as soon as possible.
“In a moment like this, all we can do is bow down before the Sovereignty of God, and receive grace and help in this time! I’ll remember Diogo as a great friend, father and husband!
"'To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to leap for joy; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace' - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV."
It's been reported the accident, on the A52 known as Palacios de Sanabria, near the city of Zamora, was the result of a blown-out tyre as Jota and Andre Silva, himself a player for Portuguese side Penafiel, were making their way towards a ferry that was bound for the UK ahead of a return to pre-season training.
Jota was reportedly travelling back to Liverpool via sea after being advised not to fly following an operation on a collapsed lung earlier this summer.