Diogo Jota's wife Rute Cardoso visited the sea of floral tributes at Anfield on Friday as the Liverpool team also laid roses in memory of their team-mate
The grieving widow of Liverpool hero Diogo Jota, Rute Cardoso, paid a visit to the sea of floral tributes that have amassed outside Anfield on Friday.
The 28-year-old Portuguese forward and his brother Andre Silva, 25, tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Spain last week. Liverpool's squad, led by manager Arne Slot, also took time to honour their fallen team-mate, each laying a single rose amidst the flowers in a touching act of remembrance.
Key players including Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo, along with Slot, paid their respects at Anfield, where fans continue to grieve the loss of the beloved player, reports the Mirror. Jota's partner and mum of his three children travelled to see the outpouring of love for her late husband.
Liverpool confirmed on Friday that their match against Preston North End will proceed as scheduled on Sunday, marking the first game since Jota's untimely passing. The match will be broadcast live on ITV 1.
In a statement, the Reds announced: "Ahead of the 3pm BST kick-off, there will be a rendition of LFC anthem You'll Never Walk Alone and the home club will lay a wreath alongside the away supporters."
"A minute's silence will be observed in Diogo and Andre's memory and digital tributes will be displayed on the screen and across pitchside LEDs. Both sets of players will wear black armbands. Preston have also created a commemorative edition of the matchday programme that features written tributes to Diogo and Andre."
The Liverpool ace and his younger sibling were returning from Portugal, where Jota had just tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart. The Reds' striker was grounded due to a minor lung surgery.
Following the heartbreaking event, the brothers were laid to rest in a ceremony in Gondomar, Portugal on Saturday morning. A flood of tributes have since been left at both Anfield and Molineux, the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers where he played from 2017 to 2020.
Liverpool's CEO Billy Hogan, along with other club executives, visited the memorial site to honour Jota, described as an "incredible footballer and really good person".
In a chat with LFC TV, Hogan expressed: "First, I would just say that obviously we're here today - and so many people have been here before - to just offer condolences and thoughts and prayers for Diogo and for Andre, and most importantly for their family.
"It has only been a couple of days but, as we all know, it has been just absolutely devastating. We're a club in mourning. We have all been completely shocked by the situation and, again, can only think of what this has meant to their family."
He continued: "What we see behind us and the overwhelming outpouring of support and emotion and grief and love - having a chance to walk down the row here and read the cards and read the messages, our anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone, it does mean something.
"In this case, I think everybody just feels so passionately about making sure that we remember the two boys but also that we support their family, and we're going to work through this together."
There have also been a number of heartfelt tributes from those who shared a dressing room with Jota. Andy Robertson took to social media to express his grief: "The ones I'm thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear. I'm so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls - Diogo and Andre.
"For the team and the club, we'll try to cope with this together... however long that takes. For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy.
"I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now. It's the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real.
"Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun. He was the most British foreign player I've ever met. We used to joke he was really Irish... I'd try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota.
"We'd watch the darts together, enjoy the horse racing. Going to Cheltenham this season was a highlight - one of the best we had.
"The last time I saw him was the happiest day of his life - his wedding day. I want to remember his never-ceasing smile from that magical day. How much he was bursting with love for his wife and family.
"I can't believe we're saying goodbye. It's too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate - and for making it better. Love you, Diogo."
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