Staff at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre are dreading the exit of Roberto Firmino at the end of the season.
Firmino is all set to end his glorious eight-year stay on Merseyside this summer. Having joined before Jurgen Klopp in 2015, the Brazilian has become part of the furniture at the club.
And as per the Liverpool Echo, Reds staff are having a hard time accepting that Bobby won’t be back next year.
It’s claimed that those who work with him day to day have become ‘incredibly fond’ of the 31-year-old. As a result, his departure will reportedly be ‘keenly felt’ by all those at the AXA.
One staff member is quoted as describing Firmino as a ‘cast-iron legend’ ahead of his curtain coming down in a few months time.
Bobby leaving Liverpool a true legend
It’s hardly a surprise to hear that Bobby is incredibly popular with the everyday people he works with. The Brazil international seems like one of the genuinely nicest men in football.
None of his teammates have a bad word to say about him, which says an awful lot. Fabinho recently described his countryman as being a ‘very special person’ who everyone likes and that just about says it all. On top of that, the Brazilian midfielder recently called Firmino an ‘excellent’ player.
Andy Robertson echoed those sentiments only yesterday. Speaking to Kammy & Ben’s Proper Football Podcast, Robertson named Firmino as his favourite teammate.
“He’s a joy to play with,” raved the Scotland captain. “I would say, if you were to ask any Liverpool player, and probably any Brazil player, who’s the most enjoyable player that you play with? It’s Bobby Firmino because his work rate, his skill, his smile, everything about him…he’s different class.
“I love playing with him, I love linking up with him, I love when he goes and presses the ball. I just love everything about his game.”
With praise like that ringing in his ears, leaving is going to be hard for Bobby. It really will feel like a different place without his relentlessly smiling face. There’ll no doubt be more prolific wearers of the Liverpool No.9 shirt in the future, but there’ll never be one quite so universally loved.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
