Diogo Jota's agent, Jorge Mendes, was seen in tears outside the mortuary where the bodies of the late Liverpool star and his brother are being held. The 28-year-old forward and his sibling Andre Silva tragically lost their lives in a car crash.

The football world was shaken by the devastating news on Thursday morning that Jota and his brother, aged 26, had died following a car accident in Spain's Zamora province. Their Lamborghini is suspected to have suffered a tyre blowout during overtaking, causing the vehicle to leave the road and burst into flames, with both men pronounced dead at the scene. Mendes, the renowned agent who represents some of the top Portuguese talents including Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho, had been guiding Jota's career even since his Premier League days with Wolves. After visiting the Puebla de Sanabria mortuary in Zamora, where the remains of Jota and his brother were held until Thursday evening, Mendes spoke to the press.

"We lost two great people. Diogo is an example as a person, husband, son, professional. I still can't believe it, it's very difficult," Mendes said, overcome with emotion.

Accompanied by Jota's mother, Mendes made the journey to Spain to support the bereaved family. The brothers' bodies remained at the mortuary until Thursday evening before being transported in hearses to Gondomar, Jota's hometown near Porto, Portugal.

They arrived just before midnight to a sea of grieving supporters, who broke into applause as the vehicles pulled up nearly a full day after the heartbreaking accident. The funerals for Jota and his brother are scheduled for 10am on Saturday. A vigil is planned at Sao Cosme Chapel, followed by a funeral service at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.

Many of Mendes' clients and Jota's international team-mates have offered their condolences for the late Jota, including Portugal's skipper Ronaldo, who posted on Instagram: "It doesn't make sense. We were just together in the national team, and you had just gotten married.

"To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you."

Mourinho, currently at the helm of Fenerbahce, also expressed his sorrow: "The loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva is a great tragedy and an immense injustice for someone who was so young and had so much life ahead of him. I send my deepest condolences to all their family and friends."

Ruben Dias of Manchester City, who played alongside Jota for Portugal, shared his disbelief: "I still can't believe it. You won your first Premier League, we won the Nations League together, and you got married. It doesn't make sense. We will not forget you, as a man, as a father, as a brother, as a son and as the tireless and talented team-mate you always were on the field. May you both rest in peace."