“This is so difficult to cope with” – father of ex-Bundesliga star dies while traveling together

Roberto Firmino apparently used the international break for a family trip. But it ended in a death.

According to Brazilian media reports, the father of former Bundesliga star Roberto Firmino died while vacationing together in Dubai. As the UOL news agency reported, 62-year-old José Roberto Cordeiro de Oliveira suffered a heart attack and could not be saved in time.

Firmino himself confirmed his father’s death, sharing a video showing both the year of birth and year of death. He also shared an excerpt from his recently published book in which he wrote about him: “Not all heroes wear a cape, some are called ‘Papa’. My father, José, was the hero of my childhood, he was an inspiration and role model. A generous, serious, honest man.”

Firmino’s wife Larissa spoke in more detail: “What an emptiness you have left here, father-in-law. What kind of pain is this?”

Apparently the “Firmino family”, consisting of 14 people, wanted to spend several days together in Dubai. According to his wife Larissa, the parents even arrived earlier. “We wanted to spend the best four days of our lives together, but they were cut in half.” The tragic incident apparently happened after two days.

“My God, this is so hard to cope with! Our hearts are so grateful for the opportunity to say goodbye so beautifully, but the pain is even greater,” says Larissa. “Seeing the suffering of my mother-in-law, Roberto and my sister-in-law breaks my heart.”