BRUNO FERNANDES and Diogo Dalot have been granted extended leave by Manchester United.
The heartbroken Portuguese duo were set to return to the club’s Carrington training HQ 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.
The Liverpool striker, 28, and his brother Andre, 25, died in a car crash on Thursday.
United skipper Fernandes and Dalot were at the funeral in Portugal on Saturday.
A source said: “Bruno and Diogo are heartbroken and in shock after attending the funeral.
“United’s players have rallied around them. They’ve been offered a week’s extended leave and counselling or support.
“The pair played with Jota for ten years in the national side and won the Nations League together only a few weeks ago.”
Following Jota’s death, Fernandes wrote: “May you and your brother find the peace you need.”
Liverpool have also delayed the squad’s return for pre-season in the wake of Jota’s tragic death.
The Merseyside club delayed the first group of Arne Slot’s players’ proposed return to training, which was scheduled for Friday.
They will instead now return on Monday.
Slot’s team are scheduled to play their first pre-season match on Sunday 13 July against Preston at Deepdale.
Matches against AC Milan and Yokohoma FM will follow on 26 and 30 July during a tour of Japan.
Read the full article here