Joe Gomez says the most popular player he’s ever seen left Liverpool back in 2021

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Joe Gomez has opened up on who the most popular member of the Liverpool squad has been during his time at the club.

Having arrived way back in 2015, Gomez is now the longest-serving first-team player at Liverpool.

During that time, the 26-year-old has seen some absolute legends of the club come and go. From the very dying embers of Steven Gerrard’s career at Anfield, through to modern-day icons like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane and the rest. Joe has seen it all.

And speaking to the We Are Liverpool podcast released today, Gomez has named the one player who was universally loved.

“I’d probably say all round for me it might be Gini [Wijnaldum],” said the defender.

“He was such a good person. He’d be funny but he had such a good heart. He is up there for me.”

Gomez recalls Wijnaldum warmth

Gomez has previously spoken about his friendship with Wijnaldum during his time at the club [liverpoolfc.com]. Already naturally drawn to Van Dijk given their partnership on the pitch, Virgil’s countryman also turned out to be a close friend for Joe.

Usually spotted with a beaming smile on his face, it would have been hard to not to get on with Gini.

It must have been a real wrench for the squad then, to see the Netherlands international leave back in 2021.

Having spent five years winning the hearts and minds of fans and teammates alike, Wijnaldum left on a free transfer two-and-a-half years ago.

Since then, things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Gini. Having joined PSG, the now 32-year-old spent just a year in the French capital before being farmed out on-loan to Roma.

Things hardly went much better in Italy. A broken leg early into his stay prevent Wijnaldum from ever really getting going.

With PSG happy to see him leave upon his return to his parent club, Liverpool’s former No.5 left for the Middle East, and Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq.

Had Jurgen Klopp had his way, you get the feeling Gini would have never left the Reds. Exiting during COVID times, the Dutchman perhaps never got the send-off he truly deserved either. Hopefully we’ll see him back at Anfield some day.