Sol Campbell has labelled Gini Wijnaldum as a ‘top, top player’ and someone who performed on a ‘consistent’ basis for Liverpool, as he told talkSPORT.
After his contract at Liverpool expired, Wijnaldum took his talents across the channel to France and work under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino at PSG.
Many Liverpool fans probably thought Wijnaldum’s time at Anfield was going to come to an end long before his contract expired because both parties couldn’t come to an agreement on a new deal as he was reaching those final days.
Well, that day arrived in July, as Campbell thinks the Reds have parted ways with an underappreciated performer.
“He’s a top, top player and Klopp loved him,” said Campbell. “There’s a budget there where they probably said ‘this is the ceiling for him’.
“But he’s a top, top player and he has done it for Liverpool on a consistent basis. And it’s not like he’s pulling up trees every game.
“But the consistency, that’s what you want as a player and that’s what a manager wants, that consistency of quality. He has always been effective.
“When you are watching on TV, then you are watching live, it’s different. You see what people do, those little things. But you have to see what he’s doing off the ball, some people around the world, who don’t like him, aren’t seeing that full picture. Not seeing him in training.”
Given the type of system Wijnaldum was playing in on Merseyside, there’s no doubt that the brakes were on in regards to him not being able to get forward and express himself.
For a brief period, he showcased his goalscoring talents at Euro 2020 with Holland, but it won’t be a surprise if he’s more expansive in the colours of PSG next season.
When Wijnaldum first arrived in England to join Newcastle, he was a goalscoring wide player and it wouldn’t be a surprise if some of those old days return next season in France.
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