Tribal Football

Firmino says Liverpool departure was down to one Klopp decision

Firmino says Liverpool departure was down to a last minute substitution
Firmino says Liverpool departure was down to a last minute substitution Action Plus

Brazil forward Roberto Firmino revealed that his departure from Liverpool was due to a last-minute substitution.

He has claimed that his choice to leave the club stemmed from a Jurgen Klopp coaching decision in a match against Wolves. 

Advertisement
Advertisement

After an eight-year stint at Anfield, where he scored 111 goals and made 75 assists in 392 games, Firmino left in June 2023.

He stated in a new book: "The straw that broke the camel’s back was a match against Wolves, in which I came on as a substitute in the last minute. That was it. Right there, I understood.

"As we say in Brazil, the penny dropped. I knew now. I called my agents. Roger Wittmann and Christian Rapp met with me for a face-to-face talk. We left the living room and went to my room: just me, Christian, Roger and Larissa, no distractions. Christian and Roger were perfectly transparent about everything that was happening and the club’s view of my future.

"It wasn’t a war. It was just a difference in understanding about what I could offer to Liverpool. I reflected a lot and realized that God’s plan was to take me somewhere else. The signs were all there since that conversation with Pastor Daniel in Maceio. I had been stubborn.

"God didn’t want me to stay in Liverpool, but I was insisting. I didn’t listen. But I couldn’t avoid it any more. It was time to accept. I decided it was time to seek another challenge for myself, another purpose. My time at Liverpool had come to an end."

Prefer Tribal Football on GoogleSee our stories more often
AddAdd on Google

Related Articles