Liverpool legend John Aldridge believes the Premier League giants will ‘miss’ Roberto Firmino with the long-serving forward set to become a free-agent this summer.
Even after undergoing surgery to correct his sight, Jurgen Klopp still didn’t see this one coming. News of Firmino’s departure caught no-longer bespectacled Liverpool boss by surprise, the Brazil international announcing his intention to leave when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign.
At just 31, and with nine goals in 12 Premier League starts this term, Firmino is far from scrapheap-bound.
Only Mo Salah has scored more in England’s top-flight than him so far this term; Firmino rising off the bench to plunge a dagger into Arsenal’s title hopes with a dramatic late header during Sunday’s pulsating 2-2 draw.
These are the sort of contributions Liverpool will ‘miss’ when one of their modern-day icons rides off into the sunset.
Roberto Firmino will leave Liverpool during the summer transfer window
“It was a fantastic header from Bobby. We’ll miss him when he leaves,” Aldridge, a First Division winner in 1988, tells the Liverpool Echo.
“When he came on, he made a difference. He’s been great for the club.
“Everyone wishes him all the best. Hopefully he can keep putting in good cameos and keep getting us some needed points until the end of the season. He’s been fantastic for the club, he really has been a great player.”
It remains to be seen where Firmino ends up, his eight-year spell at Liverpool coming to a close. Jose Mourinho’s Roma are reportedly keen amid doubts over Tammy Abraham’s future. Real Madrid appear to have emerged as another potential destination.
Firmino, a £30 million signing from Hoffenheim during the summer of 2015, allegedly has little interest in continuing his Premier League career at one of Liverpool’s rivals, much to Klopp’s presumed relief.
“He told me (he was leaving),” Klopp admits. “Surprised? Yes, a little bit but I was not hit by the surprise, actually it’s a normal thing to do. (The decision) could go two ways. And it was one and I respect that a lot.
“He told me and then the only other thing he said is; ‘Now I want to bring this wonderful story to a positive end’. He is completely here and completely committed, how everybody can imagine. And that’s all we need to know.
“There’s no time for a goodbye or whatever in this moment. There’s enough time for that later in the season.”
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