Following Real Madrid's dramatic 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the FIFA Club World Cup final, Trent Alexander-Arnold has paid an emotional tribute to his former Liverpool teammate, Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car accident along with his brother, Andre Silva. The accident occurred in Spain, and the news has sent shockwaves throughout the footballing world.
Alexander-Arnold, who recently moved to Real Madrid after a successful stint with Liverpool, admitted that it was difficult to focus on the match given the circumstances. However, he pushed himself to perform for the team, believing that it's what Jota would have wanted. "I still had a job to do - to try and perform for the team and help them win the game, no matter how difficult it was," Alexander-Arnold told DAZN. "As hard as it was to do it, I had to push myself to focus on what my job and role was. I tried to do it as best as I could, but it was difficult, and I am not going to lie about that".
The defender played a crucial role in the match, delivering the cross that led to Fran Garcia's first-half goal. Reflecting on his performance, Alexander-Arnold touchingly said, "[Jota] was one of my close friends. And I am sure that's what he would have wanted me to do. I'm sure we would have had a laugh and joke about the assist as well. He was there with me, I am sure".
Kylian Mbappe, Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid teammate, also paid tribute to Jota after scoring the winning goal. Mbappe celebrated by displaying the number 20, which was Jota's squad number during his time at Liverpool. This gesture further highlighted the impact Jota had on those around him and the respect he garnered from his peers.
Alexander-Arnold and Jota shared a close bond during their five years together at Liverpool. "I shared the dressing room with him for five years – amazing memories on and off the pitch with him," Alexander-Arnold said. "He was a very close friend, someone who lit up a room when he was in it". The defender also acknowledged the outpouring of support from the football community, adding, "It's been very emotional and heartwarming to see the footballing world unite and come together to show their love and support to [Diogo], his brother and their family".
While many of Jota's former Liverpool teammates attended the funeral in Portugal, Alexander-Arnold was unable to attend due to his commitments with Real Madrid at the Club World Cup. This made the situation even more challenging for him, as he had to cope with the loss of a close friend from afar while still performing at the highest level.
Despite the grief and emotional turmoil, Alexander-Arnold demonstrated remarkable strength of character and professionalism. He channeled his emotions into his performance, helping Real Madrid secure the Club World Cup title. His words after the match serve as a testament to the impact Diogo Jota had on his life and the lasting memories they created together. "It goes without saying he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and the player he was," Alexander-Arnold concluded.
