Diego Simeone inadvertently tells wife of World Cup journalist Jorge 'El Topo' Lopez on Twitter that he was killed in car crash, as she replies: 'Diego, don't tell me that'



Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone tweets: 'He was not only a great journalist, he was also a friend. Much pain. My condolences to (his wife Veronica Brunati) and family. RIP Jorge 'Topo' Lopez'

Brunati replies: 'No. Diego, don't tell me that. Please, someone call me'

Series of tweets follow as Brunati tries to find out what happened



Lopez was killed in car crash on Wednesday morning in Sao Paulo while covering Argentina at World Cup in Brazil

Lopez tweeted selfie from Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella's press conference on Tuesday



Lionel Messi dedicated Argentina's semi-final win to 'friend' Lopez



Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone unintentionally told the wife of World Cup journalist Jorge 'El Topo' Lopez that her husband had been killed in a car crash in Sao Paulo on Twitter.

Simeone tweeted that Lopez was 'not only a great journalist' but 'also a friend' after hearing of the news that led Lionel Messi to dedicate Argentina's World Cup semi-final win to the 38-year-old.

The Atletico boss included Lopez's wife, Veronica Brunati, in the tweet who, astonishingly, seemed to be unaware of the news, as she replied: 'No. Diego, don't tell me that. Please, someone call me.'



VIDEO Scroll down to watch Diego Simeone show off his skills in Atletico Madrid training

Mistake: Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone inadvertently told Jorge 'El Topo' Lopez's wife of the news Memory: Veronica Brunati changed her profile picture to this with her husband Lopez the day after The tweet: Simeone says Lopez was 'not only a great journalist' but 'also a friend' as he includes @verobrunati First reaction: Brunati tweets Simeone back, simply saying 'no' after reading his first tweet Distraught: Brunati appears devastated as she tweets Simeone back trying to find out more Desperate: Brunati appeals for more information about her husband after reading Simeone's tweet Devastated: Lopez's wife Brunati was left distraught at the news of her husband's death in Brazil

Simeone, who won the La Liga title with Atletico last season, tweeted: 'He was not only a great journalist, he was also a friend. Much pain. My condolences to @verobrunati and family. RIP Jorge 'Topo' Lopez.'

Brunati, replying directly, first simply wrote 'no', before going on to say: 'Diego, don't tell me that. Please, someone call me. I'm in a hotel in San Pablo in the Quality.'

The day after Lopez's death, Brunati changed her profile picture on Twitter to her and her husband.



Among those leading the tributes to Lopez was Messi who, after Wednesday night's win that saw Argentina set up a World Cup final showdown with Germany, dedicated it to the reporter.

'Big hug to all the Argentina fans and a very special memory for Jorge 'Topo' Lopez,' wrote Messi, who was selected for random drug testing after they won 4-2 on penalties.



'This victory is especially for you, my friend. A big hug to the family, lots of strength.'

Lopez, 38, was killed on Wednesday morning when a taxi he was traveling back to his hotel in was hit by a stolen car being chased by police.

Sport, an organisation Lopez joined in 2000, called it 'one of the saddest days in our 35-year history' after hearing of the news.



FIFA also paid tribute to the journalist, with head of media Delia Fischer saying they 'would like to send our sincerest condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of Argentine journalist, Jorge Lopez'.

Messi and Argentina face Germany in the World Cup final at the Maracana on Sunday.



Tragic: Lopez tweeted this selfie the day before he was killed in a car crash in Sao Paulo

Friends: Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Lopez pose for a photo together On duty: Lopez was in Brazil following Argentina for the 2014 World Cup, as they reach the final Proud: Lopez tweeted this picture of him and Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano before the car crash Mistake: Simeone tweeted that he was in 'much pain' after hearing of Lopez's death in Sao Paulo Past times: Simeone led Atletico to La Liga glory on the final day of the season at the Nou Camp against Messi



