Former Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has claimed that Roberto Firmino ‘suffered a lot’ during his early days at Anfield.
Lucas and fellow Brazilian Firmino played together for two years at Liverpool, before the older man left for Lazio. With Bobby set to depart the club this summer, Lucas looked back on his countryman’s time at Anfield.
“Bobby is a special guy, he’s a legend he won everything with the club, he gave so much. But the cycle ends, things change and maybe he feels that as well. Maybe he needs a new challenge,” the 36-year-old said during an interview with liverpoolfc.com. “We can only thank him [for] what he’s done for the club.”
Things weren’t always so easy for Firmino at Liverpool, though. Having witnessed the forward join as a 23-year-old from Hoffenheim in 2015, Lucas says he initially struggled to adapt.
“I know him very well, he suffered a lot when he arrived and I know that,” he said. “He struggled and he played out of position, but he kept quiet, kept working and he became this fantastic player and he’s a legend at the club. You can be sad [to see him leave], but if you look back we will be happy to see how much he achieved at Liverpool.”
Firmino’s story comes towards its close
Given all his success in the years since, it’s easy to forget just how difficult Bobby found those early months at Liverpool. With Brendan Rodgers struggling to get a tune out of the team, the Brazilian simply couldn’t find his place.
Rodgers had reportedly preferred the signing of Christian Benteke, which meant there was no place for Firmino up-front. Played out wide and even at wing-back, Bobby looked like he may join the long list of recent expensive flops at Liverpool.
Had Rodgers stayed on beyond the Autumn, then perhaps that fate may still have befallen the Brazil international. Thankfully, FSG knew Brendan’s time was up and brought in the man who would turn Firmino into a Reds legend.
There may have been other managers who knew how to get the best out of Bobby, but under Jurgen Klopp he became a genuine superstar.
Of course, having Sadio Mane and then Mohamed Salah to play alongside helped. But Firmino became arguably even more crucial than both of his higher profile teammates. Klopp had admired him from his time in Germany and quickly learned that he had the tools to build a high-tempo, high-pressing team around.
Firmino never looked back, becoming a key cog in a winning machine and one of the most likable players Anfield has ever seen. His departure this summer is going to sting incredibly. As Lucas mentions, even if the Reds’ No.9 was struggling or disappointed at being out of the team, he never ever showed it. Firmino’s Liverpool story may not have got off to the best of starts, but that arguably only makes it even more remarkable. Don’t go, Bobby!
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