Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino has personally informed Jurgen Klopp that he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Firmino’s future has been up in the air for several months now, with the forward’s contract coming to a close in the summer. Just last month it had appeared that an agreement wasn’t too far away. But without any positive update for a little while, it felt like bad news was imminent.
Unfortunately, that bad news has been realised today. German journalist Florian Plettenburg revealed on Twitter this morning that Firmino has now informed Klopp that he will depart Anfield after eight years.
“He [Firmino] will LEAVE Liverpool after 8 years! It’s decided! The player has informed Klopp personally & today. It was a good talk. He won’t extend his contract. He will leave the club as a free agent in summer,” Plettenburg wrote.
“It was very important for him to inform Klopp after the training session today & personally. He made clear to the coach that he will fight for LFC until the end! He wants to make another step with his family. He has not yet chosen a new club!”
Bobby prepares the long farewell
Whatever your views on Bobby potentially extending his stay at the club, this is gut-wrenching news. After selling Sadio Mane last summer, Liverpool will now lose the second cog in their legendary front-three.
His influence may have waned over the last year or two, but make no mistake, Firmino has been a huge player for Liverpool. He’s the man who made everyone around him tick, the man who facilitated Mane and Mohamed Salah becoming goal scoring machines. To many, he was the Liverpool system.
It looks unlikely that a glorious period for Liverpool’s No.9 and the club itself will end with a trophy lift this season. But when Bobby departs Anfield for the last time, he’ll get one heck of a reception. It’s unfortunate that Mane was never afforded a proper send-off, but Firmino will get his.
Perhaps it’s the right time for the Brazil international to leave the stage. Injuries have interrupted his effectiveness for Liverpool and now approaching thirty-two, his best years are behind him. As Klopp looks to build his next great team, the Reds need fresh legs all over the pitch. But that doesn’t make today’s news any less sad.
James Milner is also potentially leaving after eight years with the club. Meanwhile Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain look set to go after five and six years respectively. It truly is the end of an era.
For now, it will be interesting to see where our Bobby ends up. Wherever he goes, he’ll take a legion of adoring Liverpool fans with him. It’s been an absolute pleasure watching him find himself as a player at Anfield. He took a while to get going, but once he did, there was no stopping him. Our number 9.