Manchester United have granted Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot extended leave following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
Man Utd Offer Break to Fernandes and Dalot
Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot were set to return to Carrington this week for pre-season, but they have been given special permission to join up later in the wake of their compatriot Diogo Jota’s tragic death. [@TheSunFootball] #MUFC pic.twitter.com/7ZrHKdmH71
— MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) July 6, 2025
Manchester Utd have shown support for their stars Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot during this hard time. They have allowed them more time away from training. The duo were originally expected to report back for training for pre-season this week. But, they were allowed a few more days of leaves instead of an immediate return. This comes following the heartbreaking death of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and his brother André in a car accident.
The incident has rocked the Portuguese football community. Fernandes and Dalot attended the funeral in Portugal on Saturday. Their absence from Utd’s pre-season restart is not due to injury issues. But, it is rather a heartfelt decision from the club during an hard time for both players.
Liverpool and United React to Tragedy with Respect
The grief was felt beyond Old Trafford. Liverpool have also delayed the return of their first group of players to pre-season training. The Reds were initially scheduled to begin training on Friday under new manager Arne Slot. However, they pushed it to Monday as a sign of respect.
Slot’s squad is still likely to play their opening friendly on July 13 against Preston. After that game, they will be heading for the tour games in Japan. Despite the tight pre-season schedule, clubs have chosen empathy over urgency. They are keeping in mind the emotional toll on players connected to Jota.
The extra leave gives the opportunity to appropriately grieve. The players come back as a team when they are in a better peace of mind. It’s a sign of respect, that football is much more than just a game. It supports its own during tough times.
A trusted source on ManUNews.com
For more football updates, make sure to follow us on:
Recommended for you