Dominik Szoboszlai has recently put pen to paper on a new and improved Liverpool contract, and his agent has now put to rest claims that he only renewed because Arne Slot was sacked.
The new terms see the midfielder move into the club’s most lucrative salary bracket, where he will now earn around £300,000 per week in line with his status as one of the best midfielders on the planet.
Szoboszlai was adamant last season that he was desperate to remain at Anfield before the agreement this summer.
He said in April: “There has been no real progression over new contract. My contract ends in 2028, so I am ready to go every day, every week, and then let’s see.
“I love being here, as I’ve said many times. I love the fans and I really like to be here. My family is happy. Let’s see.”
Szoboszlai’s agent denies suggestion that Slot sacking impacted contract talks
When asked by winwin journalist Ismael Mahmoud if Liverpool made a breakthrough in talks with Szoboszlai due to Slot’s sacking, his agent Matyas Esterhazy was quick to put the story to bed.
“Not really,” Esterhazy said.
“Dominik had a great relationship with Arne and he’ll have a great relationship with Iraola too.
“Dominik is focused on his job and he gives 200 percent for the team and for the coach. At this professional level, it’s that simple.”
Now tied down until 2031, Szoboszlai is recommitted to Liverpool but his agent says his commitment was never in question and that, with two years left on the old deal, he was still focused on doing his best for the club.
Esterhazy continued: “Don’t forget that Dom had two years left on his contract, so even without an extension, he would still have been a Liverpool player.
“So this [situation around the head coach] doesn’t change much.
“But of course, the new manager’s personality, his style of football and his ideas about the game have helped a lot.
“And I think we can all be very, very pleased with what has happened in the last few days.”
Szoboszlai has little reason to dislike Slot
Indeed, it’s a strange concept. Under Slot, Szoboszlai had the greatest success of his career.
In their first campaign together, the Hungarian became a Premier League champion for the first time, and his second, he recorded his best individual campaign at Liverpool to date.
The 25-year-old’s 13 goals and 12 assists were among the few things that stood between Liverpool and midtable obscurity last season. This, despite the fact that he played 10 of his 53 games at right back.
In fact, Szoboszlai was regularly defensive of the Dutch former Liverpool head coach.
In May, he said: “That’s not a question at all. He’s our manager. And we are in his second season. In his first season, don’t forget, we won the Premier League. So no one lost faith in him from our side.”