Liam Payne, the former One Direction star, will be laid to rest this week in his hometown of Wolverhampton, but reports suggest his close friend, Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores, will not be attending the service. Nores, who had been described as Payne’s manager by some, faces intense scrutiny following the singer’s tragic death in Buenos Aires. The 31-year-old star passed away just over a month ago after suffering head injuries from a fall at a hotel in Argentina. His body was returned to the UK two weeks ago, following thorough investigations by local authorities.
Payne had traveled to Argentina in September with Nores to handle personal matters, including renewing his visa for the United States, as well as to see former bandmate Niall Horan perform. Nores was reportedly with Payne in the hours leading up to his death, visiting the hotel three times before the fall. However, as new reports emerge, it’s clear that Nores is now at the center of an investigation by Argentinian authorities, who have charged three individuals in connection with the incident.
Sources close to the Payne family have revealed that Nores will not be welcome at the funeral. The family reportedly wishes to keep the ceremony peaceful and free from any further tension, noting that Nores has never been particularly close with Liam’s wider circle of friends. The source indicated that Nores’ presence at the funeral could strain an already difficult situation, especially with the ongoing legal proceedings. While Nores himself has declined to comment on the matter, a close friend of his stated that he would never do anything to add to the pain of Payne’s grieving family.
The investigation into Payne’s death continues in Argentina, with authorities accusing an unnamed individual of abandoning Payne, which allegedly contributed to his death. While Nores has been widely implicated in the case, he maintains that he did not abandon his friend. He explained in a statement that he had visited Payne multiple times on the day of the fall and left only 40 minutes before the tragedy occurred. Nores also clarified that he was never officially Payne’s manager but rather a close friend, expressing deep sorrow over the loss and the ongoing investigation.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Nores maintains that he has fully cooperated with the authorities. He provided a statement to the Argentine prosecutors on October 17 and has not had further communication with law enforcement since. The businessman has strongly denied accusations that he was complicit in any criminal activity, including drug involvement, which could lead to a prison sentence. The coming days will be crucial, as the investigation into Liam Payne’s untimely death continues to unfold, and his family prepares to say their final goodbyes in Wolverhampton
