Pedro Chirivella will join Nantes when his contract expires, according to reports from France. It was the wrong time for the Spaniard to break in at Liverpool.
20Minutes makes the claim that Nantes will sign Chirivella. The 22-year-old will apparently sign a three-year contract with the French side once his deal with the Reds ends this summer.
It would bring an end to a seven-year spell with Liverpool. Chirivella joined back in 2013 as a 16-year-old from Valencia, signing professional terms a year later.
But unfortunately, the Spaniard has never broken into the first-team at Anfield. But it’s not as simple as not being good enough.
We wrote a few months ago that Chirivella is much younger than he seems. Yes, he’s 22 but for players in his position, he has a long time before he learns the position.
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There are example all over the top of the Premier League that show experience is key in holding midfield. Even at Liverpool, we’re only seeing the best of Jordan Henderson in the role now that he’s 29.
Chirivella, at 22, is not going to have the necessary experience to break in at Liverpool. The Reds are simply too good right now and have far too many experienced midfielders for Chirivella to get a fair crack at things.
If this were five years ago, with the Reds struggling to make things work, then perhaps the Spaniard would get the opportunity to grow in the role.
Instead, Chirivella has reached an age where he needs and wants first-team football. His position just doesn’t allow that at Liverpool, unfortunately, and hopefully, he can fulfil his potential at Nantes.