2 weeks ago
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Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold said former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota "was there with me today" after helping the Spanish team reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup.
Alexander-Arnold and Jota spent five years together at Liverpool before the England full-back signed for Real in June.
Jota, aged 28, died in a car crash on Thursday along with his brother Andre Silva, who was 25. Their joint funeral was held on Saturday in Portugal.
Alexander-Arnold has been featuring for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup in the United States and assisted Fran Garcia's goal in their 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final in New Jersey.
He said the news of Jota's death had been "extremely difficult" to take in.
"I had to try and perform for the team and help them win the game, no matter how difficult it was," Alexander-Arnold told DAZN after Saturday's game.
"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.
"[Jota] was one of my close friends. And I am sure that's what he would have wanted me to do. And I'm sure we would have had a laugh and joke about the assist as well. He was there with me today, I am sure."
Alexander-Arnold said the Portuguese forward was "someone who lit up the room when he was in it".
"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 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 added that it has been "very emotional and heart-warming to see the footballing world come together to show their love and support for [Jota], his brother and their family".
"I've been around him, his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his amazing parents and his amazing children. It's truly, truly heart-breaking to wake up to news like that," he said.
"It's something you never expect."
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe was among the players who paid tribute to Jota on Saturday, with the France forward indicating number 20 after scoring an acrobatic goal, in recognition of Jota's Liverpool shirt number.
Ousmane Dembele also paid a tribute to the Portuguese by copying his Fifa gaming celebration after sealing a 2-0 win for Paris St-Germain against Bayern Munich in another other quarter-final at the Club World Cup.
