Kostas Tsimikas has offered an update on his future at Liverpool, fueling speculation about whether the Greek left-back will return to Anfield or seek a fresh start elsewhere.
After Milos Kerkez’s arrival, Tsimikas temporarily left Liverpool seeking more game time at Roma, with Andy Robertson staying to provide experienced cover. Expectations were high for the Greek left-back to feature regularly at Stadio Olimpico, but his start in Italy has been mixed.
Tsimikas made a brief nine-minute debut against Lazio before playing the full 90 minutes in Roma’s 2-1 Europa League win over OGC Nice. However, he has since fallen down the pecking order, with Gasperini preferring to move Wesley from center-back to left even when Angelino struggled with injuries.
In an interview with The Athletic, the Greek international has spoken about his time at Liverpool.
“I miss the city,” said Tsimikas. “I lived there for five years. I love everything in Liverpool. They have a special part of my heart.
"The people are very kind, some of the kindest I’ve ever met in football. They’d always try to support the team, in good, in bad, they would always do their best to try to help you. I want everything for this club, because from day one, I was fully committed there.
"I was the Greek Scouser and I always will be, I’ll keep it for my whole life."
The 29-year-old's contract runs until 2027, so theoretically he could return to Anfield next summer. “You never know,” added Tsimikas “The most important thing for me is to be healthy, to train hard, to play more games.
"Next year is a different story for me. I want to be successful, I want to win things. Only God knows what will happen in the next year.”
Kostas Tsimikas has had a mixed start to life in Italy
Kostas Tsimikas has had a mixed start to life in Italy (Image: Getty Images)
Tsimikas has also had to balance adapting to life in Italy while also grieving for his friend and Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash alongside his brother Andre Silva in the summer.
He explained: “It’s very difficult.
"When I think about Diogo, it’s always painful. He was a special guy, a very good guy, and we spent a lot of time together. I think it’s the same for everyone who plays with him — we miss him a lot.
“But for me, he was a very important person because we came to Liverpool together, and shared a lot of things together. When we had a night out or had team trips, he was always the one there next to me. We had fun together.
“When it gets hard, I try to keep only the positive things. We have to live life, because that’s the most important gift that God gave us. And although it’s painful in this situation, you have to never stop thinking about him, he is always there for us and in our hearts.”