Ruben Neves to take shirt number 21 in honour of Diogo Jota
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesRuben Neves will now wear the number 21 shirt worn by Diogo Jota for the Portugal national team.
Diogo Jota, who was a close friend and former teammate of Ruben Neves, tragically passed away this summer in a road traffic accident.
The football world is still adjusting to the loss, but nobody will be grieving quite like his close friends and family.
Neves was very much a close friend.
Both from Portugal, and bonding during their time spent at Wolverhampton Wanderers together, Ruben Neves will now honour his late friend by wearing his number on the international stage, a stage they used to share.
Ruben Neves, who is now playing his football in Saudi Arabia for Al-Hilal after departing the Premier League, was one of the pallbearers at Diogo Jota’s funeral.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez was happy to hand the number 21 shirt to Ruben Neves, saying:
“The number 21 jersey will go to Ruben Neves because, that way, that number will remain on the field and with all of us.”
“He had a very close relationship with Diogo and is the ideal person to represent him.”
This decision has come ahead of the first international break since Diogo Jota’s passing as Portugal prepare for their World Cup qualifying games against Armenia and Hungary.
Roberto Martinez added: “We know what Diogo meant to each of us and the impact he had on our lives.”
“We want to honour his memory every day?
We will carry his spirit in our hearts.”
Diogo Jota will forever be a big miss, and the Portugal team will especially miss him during their first period of meeting up without him, but as Martinez said, Neves taking on his number means that he will always be with them on the pitch.
Liverpool retired Diogo Jota’s number across all levels of the club following the confirmation of his passing, after consulting with his wife Rute Cardoso and family members.
Ruben Neves joins James Milner in choosing a shirt number to pay respect to their late friend, as Milner will wear the Number 20 for Brighton this season after Carlos Baleba switched to Number 6.
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