Liverpool legend claims Jurgen Klopp was ignoring him all last season
The legendary Roberto Firmino of Liverpool has said that Jurgen Klopp ignored him throughout the previous campaign.
One of the Liverpool players who has most clearly defined the Klopp era thus far is Firmino. The Brazilian said a tearful goodbye to the team in the summer after spending the whole manager’s stint there.
However, Bobby never really wanted to move, according to allegations made in his most recent book, “Si Senor: My Liverpool Years.” The 32-year-old claims in quotations compiled by The Athletic this morning that he made the decision to quit before the club did.
Firmino, who has acknowledged feeling “muddled” by the “slow” contract negotiations, even goes so far as to say that Klopp was purposefully avoiding him.
He is reported to have said, “The boss was avoiding me,” when the manager was unable to provide an explanation for his lack of playing time in 2022–2023.
In fact, it appears that Firmino’s dissatisfaction began much earlier—during the 2021/22 campaign. Bobby is reported to have felt “disconnected” from the club’s goals after missing a significant portion of the season due to injury for the first time. A really depressing conclusion to an incredible Liverpool career.
Firmino opens up about leaving Liverpool
If one were to read between the lines, Firmino’s conclusion—that he sprang before being pushed—seems to be accurate.
Klopp would not have made the push. It seemed that the German was eager to hold onto a player who had come to establish his own style of playing football.
However, as was the case with James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum, it appears that a higher authority made the decision to deny Bobby a new contract.
It’s difficult to advise Klopp what to do in that circumstance. This is not the type of manager who will upset the apple cart by insisting that the board grant his requests. Furthermore, there was a compelling case to be made for Firmino’s departure from Liverpool.
Thus, it’s possible that Jurgen was aware of what was about to happen to his No. 9 and was just unsure of how to communicate that information. It makes sense why Firmino would believe he was being sidelined in that situation.
It is hoped that this doesn’t negatively impact the pair’s relationship, which has always appeared to be in good shape.
Fans do, however, report that this leaves them with a slightly sour aftertaste. Bobby was making a contribution the previous season and made it obvious that he wanted to stay. It would have been incredible to watch him drifting in and out of this new Liverpool team, passing on his wisdom and knowledge to the guys who are younger than him.
In all likelihood, the Al Ahli player ought to have finished his career at Anfield. However, things simply don’t always turn out that way in life.
