Roberto Firmino is leaving Premier League giants Liverpool but Corinthians are remaining coy about the striker’s potential return to Brazilian football.
At the age of just 31, Firmino should still have his fair share of offers on this side of the Atlantic. Jose Mourinho’s Roma have been linked already amid doubts over the future of Tammy Abraham.
Some have suggested, meanwhile, that Real Madrid may make a move of their own; 35-year-old Karim Benzema suffering from niggling injury issues of late.
And, with his 32nd birthday still six months away, is it too early for Firmino to bid farewell to European football and head back across the sea?
If the opportunity arises, Brazilian giants Corinthians may be tempted to chance their arm. But club chief Alessandro Nunes accepts that ‘many clubs will be interested’ in a man who took his tally to nine goals in just 12 Premier League starts with that dramatic late header against Arsenal on Sunday.
Could Roberto Firmino leave Liverpool and return to Braz
“He is a striker who would be on the agenda of any Brazilian club,” Alessandro tells UOL. “For the quality, for everything he has already done, for the professional commitment we know he has.
“Without a doubt, if there is a possibility (to sign him), many clubs will be interested. But it is a very difficult question (about whether or not we can get him). Firmino has quality for the international scene.
“Corinthians today is not negotiating with any player to come or leave.”
Corinthians finished fourth in the Brazilian Serie A in 2022. Firmino, if he was to arrive, would join former West Ham United defender Fabian Balbuena and one-time Tottenham and Barcelona enforcer Paulinho at the Neo Quimica Arena.
Firmino began his career at Figueirense over a decade ago before joining Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim in 2011. Liverpool then paid £30 million to bring him to Anfield; Firmino forming one third of arguably the club’s greatest ever frontline alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Contract expires in July
“Yes, he told me (he’s going to leave),” Klopp said following the announcement of Firmino’s departure. “Surprised? Yes, a little bit but I was not hit by surprise, actually it’s a normal thing to do.
“It could go two ways and it was one. And I respect that a lot. It’s completely normal in this kind of long relationship that we have and Bobby has with the club and with most of the players and stuff like this, and with the fans of course.
“It’s pretty special and I loved the reception he got when he came on against United. He told me and then the only other thing he said is, ‘Now I want to bring this wonderful story to a positive end.’ So, that’s it. He is completely here and completely committed, how everybody can imagine. And that’s all we need to know.
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