The former Everton man knows the Liverpool midfielder well.
Speaking to ESPN, former Everton boss Roberto Martinez has suggested that Joe Allen prefers playing for Wales than he does for Liverpool.
The 26-year-old has been excellent in France this summer as the Welsh have triumphed against all odds to reach the semi-final of Euro 2016, where Portugal await.
This time last year, it might’ve been fanciful to suggest that Allen – a £15 million signing under Brendan Rodgers in 2012 – could prove himself a very capable footballer on a stage of this size, given that his Liverpool career had not gone exactly as planned.
But the truth is that the former Swansea City man – who played under Martinez in South Wales – has looked a man reborn since Jurgen Klopp replaced Rodgers on Merseyside back in October.
But even still, Martinez claims that the Welshman much prefers pulling on his national team shirt than he does the Liverpool kit.
“I gave Joe Allen his debut when he was 16 and what’s surprising for me is I see him enjoying his football more the national team than he does for Liverpool,” he told ESPN.
Allen is out of contract with the Reds next summer and whatever happens, he has boosted his profile significantly in the past few weeks. If he wants to leave and Liverpool want to tell him, there will be plenty of offers coming his way.
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