Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed that the number 21 shirt, worn by the late Diogo Jota, will be passed to his close friend and former teammate Ruben Neves.
Idman.biz, citing BBC, reports that Jota, the Liverpool forward, tragically died in July at the age of 28 in a car accident in northern Spain alongside his brother Andre Silva.
Neves, 28, who played with Jota at Wolves and for Portugal, was a pallbearer at his funeral. Martinez explained that giving Neves the shirt was symbolic: “That way, the number will remain on the field and with all of us. Ruben had a very close relationship with Diogo and is the ideal person to represent him.”
Portugal gather next week for their first camp without Jota as they prepare for World Cup qualifiers against Armenia and Hungary. Martinez emphasized that Jota’s memory will serve as inspiration: “His absence is a factor of unity and motivation. He wanted to win the World Cup, and we are here to fight for that dream.”
Liverpool retired Jota’s number 20 shirt after consultation with his family, while Brighton’s James Milner now wears it as a gesture of respect.
