Former Liverpool players Trent Alexander-Arnold and Xabi Alonso laid tributes to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva outside Anfield.
A delegation from Real Madrid visited Liverpool’s stadium on Monday night to pay tribute to Jota ahead of their Champions League clash on Tuesday.
Alexander-Arnold and Alonso were joined by Emilio Butragueno and Dean Hujsen in paying respects to Jota, the Liverpool footballer who tragically died in a automotive crash in July.
The delegation laid floral memorials and messages at the realm of remembrance for Jota and Silva outside Anfield.
‘Real Madrid CF expresses its deepest condolences to Liverpool FC and to the family of Diogo Jota,’ a note left by Alonso read.
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‘The football world mourns the lack of an exceptional person and a remarkable player.’
Alexander-Arnold was Jota’s teammate for five years and, in a heartfelt note of his own, said he ‘misses his mate each day’.
‘My mate Diogo,’ Trent wrote. ‘You might be so missed but still so loved. Yours and Andre’s memory will at all times live to tell the tale.
‘I smile each time I take into consideration you and can at all times remember the nice times we shared. Miss you mate, each day. Without end 20 YNWA. Love Trent and the family.’
Liverpool academy graduate Alexander-Arnold also left a PlayStation controller on the remembrance area in memory of the time they spent gaming together.
Speaking shortly after the tragic automotive accident, Alexander-Arnold described Jota as ‘certainly one of my close friends’ and said he was ‘there with me’ as he helped Real Madrid reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup.
‘I shared the dressing room with him for five years – amazing memories on and off the pitch,’ Alexander-Arnold said.
‘It goes without saying he won’t ever be forgotten by anyone. He’ll live long in all our memories for the amazing man and the player he was.
‘I’ve been around him, his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his amazing parents and his amazing children.
‘It’s truly, truly heartbreaking to wake as much as news like that. It’s something you never expect.’
The sporting world was rocked by the passing of Liverpool forward Jota and his brother Silva, who was also an expert footballer with Portuguese second-tier club Penafiel.
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Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children, just 11 days before he passed away.
Liverpool signed Jota from Wolves in 2020 and the Portugal international scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club, helping them win the Premier League title last season and two domestic cups.
Ex-Anfield manager Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Jota back in July and said he was ‘heartbroken’ by his former player’s tragic death.
‘It is a moment where I struggle,’ Klopp said. ‘There have to be a much bigger purpose, but I can’t see it!
‘I’m heartbroken to listen to in regards to the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. Diogo was not only a incredible player, but in addition an important friend, a loving and caring husband and father.
‘We’ll miss you a lot. All my prayers, thoughts, and power to Rute, the children, the family, the buddies, and everybody who loved them! Rest in peace – Love J.’
Real Madrid have an ideal record within the Champions League ahead of their clash against Liverpool, who’re tenth within the table with two wins and one defeat.
Premier League champions Liverpool have endured a miserable begin to their title defence but ended a four-game losing run on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
Alonso’s Madrid thrashed Valencia 4-0 last trip to take care of their five-point lead at the highest of La Liga.
Tuesday’s European clash marks the primary time Alexander-Arnold returns to Anfield since he left Liverpool for Real Madrid in the summertime.
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