Real Madrid News
Trent Alexander-Arnold pays tribute to Diogo Jota after Dortmund win
Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke openly and emotionally after his team’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Club World Cup quarter-finals.
But for the England international, the result felt insignificant compared to the heartbreaking news of Diogo Jota’s passing. Fighting back tears, Trent shared,
“I’m completely devastated, honestly. He was more than a friend; he was like family to me.” His grief was clear as he struggled to find words during the post-match interview.
Trent explained that he found out about Jota’s death when he woke up to countless messages offering condolences.
“At first, I didn’t understand. I had to check social media to see what was happening. I thought there must have been a mistake… but sadly, it wasn’t. I’m still in shock,” he admitted, his voice shaking with emotion.
Despite the pain he felt, Trent showed incredible professionalism by playing more than an hour in the high-stakes game, even providing an assist to help his team reach the semi-finals.
Pain beyond words
🙏 Post-match, Trent Alexander-Arnold honors Diogo Jota.
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 5, 2025
Words filled with respect, loss, and love. pic.twitter.com/U3Ke5bY5Ph
Although he was clearly heartbroken, Trent took a moment to praise the way the football community had come together to honour Diogo Jota.
“It’s been amazing to see everyone showing their support, both on and off the pitch. I know his family must really appreciate it,” he said gratefully.
When reflecting on the 3-2 win, Trent acknowledged that while it was an important result for Real Madrid, it couldn’t fill the emptiness left by his friend’s death.
“Of course, the victory is special, but nothing can make up for the void Diogo’s passing has left. He was a wonderful person and a fantastic player, and he’ll never be forgotten,” he concluded.
Real Madrid fans, teammates, and football supporters across the world have joined Alexander-Arnold in mourning the sudden loss of Diogo Jota, sending messages of love and support to his family.
However, despite the pain and grief, Real Madrid will carry on their journey at the Club World Cup.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
