- Jota was tragically killed alongside his brother when their car burst into flames
- They had been travelling back to England when a tyre blew during an overtake
- Alexander-Arnold is the latest of team-mates past and present to pay tribute
Trent Alexander-Arnold joined his Real Madrid colleagues in holding a moment of silence for his former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota before he shared a heartfelt tribute on social media.
Jota, along with his brother Andre, 26, were pronounced dead on Thursday morning after a tragic car crash that saw a tyre on his lamborghini blow out before the vehicle is said to have rolled and burst into flames.
They were on their way to Santander to catch a ferry to the UK ahead of Jota returning to pre-season training with Liverpool, which came less than two weeks after he married his childhood sweetheart Rute in his home city of Porto on June 22.
A number of Liverpool team-mates and staff past and present have paid tribute to Jota following his death and on Thursday night, Alexander-Arnold did so too.
Within the message, he detailed how much Jota meant to him and admitted he was struggling to come to terms with the news.
‘It’s so difficult to find the right words when your head and heart are struggling to accept that someone you care so much about has gone,’ Alexander-Arnold wrote.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the latest player to pay tribute to Diogo Jota after his tragic death
Alexander-Arnold was part of the Real Madrid squad that held a minute’s silence before training and he later shared a heartfelt message to his former team-mate on social media
The forward tragically passed away on Thursday when his car burst into flames after a crash
Alexander-Arnold wrote that Jota’s family ‘were his world’ as he spoke of the pain he feels
He continued: ‘Diogo, your family was your world. They were everything. For Rute, his children, and his parents, all of our hearts are broken. And for Andre as well. Brothers and best friends.
‘When it’s less painful, I want to remember Diogo with a big smile. So many laughs and happy moments. He was such a great teammate and a true friend.
Forever number 20. Rest in peace, Diogo.’
Earlier, the England defender had joined his Real Madrid colleagues in holding a minute’s silence for Jota ahead of their training session at the Club World Cup.
Alexander-Arnold was seen bowing his head in the photo.
The duo played together for Liverpool for five years, featuring in 144 games as team-mates.
During their time on the pitch, Jota and Alexander-Arnold combined for 10 goals and lifted several trophies, including this season’s Premier League title.
Together, Alexander-Arnold and Jota played together 144 times over five years for Liverpool
Club captain Virgil van Dijk wrote that Jota ‘meant so much to all of us and you always will’
Meanwhile, Liverpool club captain Virgil van Dijk was one of many other Reds stars to mourn Jota’s passing.
Posting on Instagram, he said: ‘Man, I can’t believe it, I don’t wanna believe it. Absolutely devastated and in total disbelief.
‘What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man.
‘You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids. I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family.
‘A champion forever, number 20 forever. It’s been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it.
‘We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it!
‘Rest in perfect peace Diogo & Andre.’
