Roberto Firmino is wanted by Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool, eliminating Karim Benzema
Liverpool fans could be forgiven for being fed up with Real Madrid losing two Champions League finals and being knocked out of the European Cup twice more by the La Liga giants in recent years.
However, for a legend of the Reds, if you can't beat them, join them. Reports this month suggested that Roberto Firmino could move to the Bernabeu after deciding to leave Anfield when his contract expires this summer.
The Daily Mail reports that the Brazilian wants to see where he would fit in Carlo Ancelotti's plans before making the decision to move to Spain, after falling into disrepair at Liverpool for three seasons. via. However, after ESPN reported that talisman Karim Benzema has decided to leave Real Madrid for Saudi Arabia, it seems the Spaniard has left the door open for the highly-rated striker. The second factor has come - Madrid have confirmed the French striker is leaving after 14 years with the club.
Of course, Firmino was clearly interested in the Spaniard even before Benzema decided. Fabrizio Romano has reported that Madrid bosses have discussed the Brazilian with four of the other five possible targets. In fact, such an outing would create a strange feeling among a section of fans who weren't ready to say goodbye.
Having helped Jurgen Klopp's men win every major award since 2018, Liverpool's famous attacking trio of Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have been repeatedly linked with a move to the Bernabeu over the years. In reality, however, Kopites may have feared that the African pair were more likely to be attracted to Real Madrid.
Former Red Devils lover Nicolas Anelka, who experienced an unsuccessful spell at the Bernabeu after joining Arsenal for a transfer fee of £22.3m in the summer of 1999, is said to be warning the trio should not follow his footsteps in an exclusive interview with ECHO in July 2020.
"It's an incredible top three," said the Frenchman. “I love them all, especially Roberto Firmino because he is the key to the success of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
“Salah and Mane are currently ranked among the top five players in the world. They have the quality to play for Real Madrid. But today Liverpool can compete with Real Madrid, so they don't need to move. Liverpool really is the place to be.
However, it seems that Liverpool is no longer the place to exist, at least temporarily, after failing to qualify for next season's Champions League. Meanwhile, Father Time has finally caught up with the famous Red Devils trio, as the club brought in Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo since 2020.
While Salah will receive a new contract last summer, Mane will go to Bayern Munich in a deal worth £35m. And now, a year later, Firmino is following him out the door.
Talking about Real Madrid's interest in Salah in 2020, ECHO columnist John Aldridge said:
"Personally, I think after the experience of the Champions League final (2018) and the way Ramos treated me, if it were me, I would hate Real Madrid, after this incident. I wouldn't be interested, but I don't want to leave Liverpool anyway.
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