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Jorge Mendes has spoken for the first time since the tragic passing of Diogo Jota in a road traffic incident in northern Spain.
It’s believed the Liverpool forward had been en route back to Merseyside to begin preseason training when he and his brother Andre Silva suffered the fatal crash.
The tyre of Jota’s Lamborghini blew out, causing the vehicle to skid off the road and catch fire.
Tragically, Jota passed away less than two weeks after marrying his teenage sweetheart, Rute, and less than two months after the 28-year-old and his three children celebrated Liverpool’s latest title success at Anfield.
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Now Portugal, Liverpool and the soccer world are in mourning
The funeral of the two brothers will take place on Saturday, with the wake on Friday.
Mendes, the Portuguese superagent who heads up Gestifute, the organization that represented Jota, arrived on Thursday evening to support the family.
He was described by The Athletic as “visibly emotional” and told the outlet: “I still don't believe it, I still don't believe it, this is very difficult, very difficult for me
It comes as tributes continue to flood in following the sad passing of the former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward.
The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were among those to send their condolences, as did the UK royal family and the Prime Ministers of both the UK and Portugal.
Among the well-wishers were members of the current and previous Liverpool squads, many of whom shared anecdotes about Jota, in addition to expressing their grief and sending support to his family.
“You always wanted to have a laugh and were a pleasure to be around,” wrote former captain Jordan Henderson, who reminisced about how the pair would try and get James Milner fined.
“You became one of my closest friends in football
20, who recently helped the club win a 20th league title.
Flowers, shirts, scarves and other memorabilia were left outside the ground, as renditions of You’ll Never Walk Alone were sung.
Further afield, Portugal fans chanted Jota’s name during the country’s game against Spain at the Women’s Euros, and teams at Club World Cup began training sessions with a minute’s silence.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has also confirmed Pedro Neto, who played with Jota at club and international level, will be allowed to choose whether to play in the quarterfinal tie against Palmeiras, as the world of soccer continues to mourn an untimely and tragic passing.
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