Dominik Szoboszlai to Real Madrid is a story that has been shoved down our throats this week, but Jurgen Klopp already explained why this would be a bad idea.
In what is an all-too-familiar situation for the Reds, another Anfield ace has been credited with interest in a move to the Bernabeu.
Szoboszlai has been linked with Madrid since it emerged that his dream is to play there — him and every top player in Europe, it would seem.
Liverpool are confident in Szoboszlai signing a new contract, but we know from past experiences that the lure of the Spanish giant can turn heads.
Pick one player you’d re-sign – Luis Diaz or Trent Alexander-Arnold?
The Hungarian should be reminded of what Klopp told Philippe Coutinho back when he was being tempted away.
Jurgen Klopp’s warning to Philippe Coutinho even more pertinent to Dominik Szoboszlai
I don’t think I’m alone in saying Coutinho was the most entertaining player to watch while he was at Liverpool, and most fans would have never wanted him to leave.
But the transfer pull of Spain’s two powerhouses can never be matched by a Premier League side.
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When Barcelona came knocking, then-manager Klopp didn’t think it was a good idea for the Brazilian playmaker to leave.
He famously said: “”I told him stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour. Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid, and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more.”
In hindsight, it was sound advice. Coutinho never returned to his Liverpool heights, and while he did win a number of trophies at Barcelona and Bayern Muich, it wasn’t as the star player.
This advice should hit even harder now. Trophies weren’t common back when Coutinho left, but the Reds are in a much stronger place now.
Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s best player this season, and looks nailed on to take the captaincy off of Virgil van Dijk when he calls it a day. He has a much higher chance of having that statue built if he stays and leads the side to success for years to come.
Coutinho contract terminated this week
Now 33, Coutinho has had a tough time of it in recent seasons.
He just terminated his contract with Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama on Wednesday (via Marca), marking another failed stint at his fourth club since leaving Anfield.
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Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Sure, his resume suggests a highly successful career, but even the player himself would surely recognise that he could have achieved legend status at Liverpool had he not forced a move.
Hopefully, Szoboszlai learns from his mistake.
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