Former Hoffenheim sports chief Ernst Tanner has revealed how an agent tried to sell them on signing Roberto Firmino with a dodgy video.

Now with Liverpool, Firmino was brought to Europe by thee Bundesliga club.

Tanner, has revealed how they were baffled by the clips of Firmino - because they had been sped up to make him appear quicker.

"We'd got hold of a video of Firmino from an agent and it left us puzzled," he told World Soccer. "In it, Firmino appeared to have a shot like an absolute rocket. But we knew he didn't hit a ball like that in reality.

"The video had been speeded up. Every bit of play was that little bit quicker."

Despite that, Hoffenheim would eventually sign the player, and it was a decision they did not regret.

"The boy was just a really good player," Tanner added. "What impressed me most was his attitude.

"His coaches in Brazil did a tremendous job of preparing him. They used to criticise him a lot, but he never took it the wrong way. He'd come back for more, he wouldn't be deterred.

"In training sessions with Figueirense, he worked like a man possessed. He was irresistible. He had a real never-say-die attitude. That was awesome."

Tanner added: "It was always clear that at some point he was going to become too big for us.

"His departure for Liverpool left us with one eye laughing and the other shedding a tear."