Liverpool have been on the hunt for a new central midfielder since Georginio Wijnaldum joined French giants Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.
Georginio Wijnaldum scored for Roma on Sunday night
Georginio Wijnaldum scored for Roma on Sunday night
Georginio Wijnaldum scored in Roma's 3-0 win over Sampdoria on Sunday night to show Jurgen Klopp what he missed.
Wijnaldum, 32, leaves Liverpool for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in the summer of 2021. Klopp's midfield is said to have never been the same since then, with the Red Devils eighth in the top half. Premier League standings - eight points behind Manchester United in second place. Wednesday.
Wijnaldum joined Roma on loan last summer and spent most of the campaign in the treatment room after breaking his leg. However, the Dutch international was fit again and inspired Jose Mourinho's side to a well-deserved win on Sunday night. Roma's win over Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico put them in fifth place in Serie A, level with fourth-placed Inter Milan. Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy also scored, with Sampdoria defender Jeison Murillo sent off with a goalless game.
Wijnaldum was an integral member of Klopp's squad during his five years with Liverpool. The Dutchman, who was signed from Newcastle, has missed just 11 Premier League games in that time, appearing in all 38 games in his final season.
"He's the perfect midfielder," Klopp said in 2019. "It has everything you need:
both ways, small spaces, big spaces, tough challenges, beautiful football, all that. Gini is a good personality in the dressing room. He's not one to say yes to everything."
Jurgen Klopp's troops miss Georginio Wijnaldum
Jurgen Klopp's troops miss Georginio Wijnaldum
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Liverpool came through without Wijnaldum last year, winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. They are also one point behind Manchester City in the title race and reached the Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in Paris. This season, however, is a completely different story. Liverpool have not been able to go far in the FA Cup, Champions League and Carabao Cup, while their form in the Premier League has remained indifferent. Many critics attribute this to their aging midfield.
Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho are all at the end of their careers, while Naby Keita and James Milner are out of contract at the end of the season. Despite being 32 years old, Wijnaldum is still as active and relentless as ever. Klopp was unable to re-sign Wijnaldum as he was said to have failed to meet PSG's demands for joining Roma and broke his leg just 12 minutes after his Serie A debut. He recovered his fitness in February. and has featured in every game since.
Tony Cascarino criticizes Liverpool for letting Wijnaldum go. The talkSPORT pundit said in 2022: "Liverpool's big shortcoming is Gini Wijnaldum, who left a huge hole when he arrived at PSG. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thiago don't do the same job."
However, Wijnaldum won't be too worried about Liverpool, as he is aiming for European success with Roma. Mourinho's army will face Feyenoord in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, with the participation of Sevilla, Juventus and Man Utd.
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