Recently, Roberto Firmino shared his side of the story on his departure from Liverpool in an interview with the Echo. He emphasized his strong desire to stay but ultimately felt abandoned by the club.
Firmino stated: “It was August 2022, pre-season was ongoing, and Liverpool told me they wanted me to stay. I couldn’t sleep at night during that period, constantly thinking about a new contract. It felt like a formality, a matter of time. My agent then engaged in continuous talks with the club, and disagreements began to surface. The club had its own vision, while we had different perspectives. I scored eight goals in nine matches, with the World Cup just two months away, when Klopp called me to the hotel for a chat. He expressed, ‘We genuinely want you to stay.'”
Firmino continued: “He highlighted that negotiations would accelerate once we resolved the salary issue. I reassured him, ‘Money is not the problem.’ I informed him that I would discuss it with my agent, and he would handle it. It was heartwarming to have Klopp actively approach me about the contract renewal. I felt confident that it was a done deal. Upon returning from Dubai, we resumed the contract talks. My position was clear: I wanted to stay. I wasn’t interested in listening to offers from other clubs in Europe or even other countries. My life belonged to Liverpool.”
“However, a new point of contention arose regarding my role for the upcoming season. My agent argued that I am a world-class player, and my position shouldn’t be altered. But the club’s view was that my prime had passed. My salary was too high, and they wanted to use the funds to sign new players and renew contracts with others. In their eyes, Gakpo, Diaz, Nunez, and Jota represented the club’s future. I still believed I could contribute significantly in the attack, and Klopp also expressed to the club that he needed me. But the club felt I was no longer a central figure.” the Brazilian added.
“I was willing to accept a shorter contract, two years if necessary, even one year. I conveyed to the club that I was open to a substantial pay cut. That wasn’t an issue; money didn’t matter. But communication stalled, and the club’s responses became slow. Weeks turned into months, and I kept making concessions. However, it seemed the club was uninterested in resolving the contract situation. Subsequently, Klopp avoided me. I sought explanations, but received no direct responses. At that moment, I realized they might genuinely not need me anymore. The game against Wolves served as the final blow. I was a late substitute, and I knew my Liverpool chapter had ended.”
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