Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool to ‘keep’ Roberto Firmino despite the rumours that Juventus are keen to sign him this summer, as he told the Football Daily.
The Brazil international has 12 months left on his current contract and Carragher would rather let his contract run out than sell the player for ‘£19 million’.
Firmino may have slipped outside of Jurgen Klopp’s first team plans in recent seasons, but on Saturday, he showcased his worth once again.
He was outstanding in his old false number nine role, as the Reds beat Manchester City 3-1 in the Community Shield at the King Power Stadium.
But that doesn’t hide the rumours that Liverpool have seemingly agreed to sell Firmino this summer to Juventus, despite Klopp being keen to keep him on board – either way, there seems to be interest from the Serie A giants.
When Carragher was asked to share his thoughts on Firmino’s future and those Juventus links, he issued the following response about such a ‘really important’ player.
“I don’t think it’s a risk losing him for nothing,” said Carragher. “I have felt for a couple of years now that Firmino would see this contract out and move on for nothing.
“I think getting £19 million or keeping Firmino next season, I would probably keep him. The situation Liverpool find themselves in. They don’t want to be caught short.
“I think Firmino will have a big role. Listen, Nunez might take time to settle and he is playing in the Premier League. And that’s not just about his ability, it’s about coming to a different league.
“So, I think Firmino could be really important this season and I think he might actually start the first few games of the season and I can imagine Nunez coming off the bench.
“I am not quite sure about the Juventus links. Obviously, we have spent a lot of money on a striker and Juventus play a 4-3-3, if I am not mistaken, so I couldn’t see Firmino playing wide or going there to be an understudy. The links, maybe true, I don’t know, but I would keep him.”
LIVERPOOL CAN’T LET FIRMINO GO
From a financial perspective, if Liverpool did sell Firmino this summer, how much would they make and would that hurt their back pockets if he left for nothing next summer?
Given how Firmino can play such a pivotal role for the team, and it becomes even more important now that Sadio Mane has left, then they are better off keeping him on Merseyside.
Klopp took his side all the way last season – playing every single game – securing two trophies, but losing the Champions League final and the Premier League title race on the final day.
These are very small margins and a player like Firmino, on top of his form, could be that difference-maker in adding that extra trophy to the club’s cabinet.
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