Roberto Firmino didn’t have the best of starts to his Anfield career, but his recent run of performances have excited former Brazilian forward Ronaldinho, who says he is one of the best in the world and manager Jurgen Klopp should build his team around the attacking midfielder.
The Brazilian legend heaped praise on his compatriot, saying that he was in the same bracket as some of the best players in that position in the world right now — Andres Iniesta, Mesut Ozil and David Silva.
“I didn’t ever question if he would be a great player for Liverpool, I knew that he would be,” said the World Cup winner, according to The Mirror.
“He’s one of the best at what he does in the world. He’s in the same class as Ozil, Silva, Iniesta, and all the other great players who play that role.
The centre of the team
Ronaldinho maintained that Liverpool need to build their team around Firmino and that new manager Jurgen Klopp would do well to bring in player who would complement the 24-year-old attacking midfielder. Klopp is set to be very busy in the summer transfer window as he looks to overhaul the squad he inherited from Brendan Rodgers.
“Klopp is one of the best coaches in the world, he will know that Liverpool need better players, he will know that Firmino will need better players around him to get the most out of his game.
“I’m sure when he joined Liverpool, Klopp was promised he could bring in his own players, and with Firmino at the centre of the team, there’s no reason Liverpool cannot challenge once again.”
Still some way to go
The 29 million pound purchase from the Bundesliga has 6 goals and 5 assists this season for Liverpool FC, hardly the stuff that would see him compete with play makers like Iniesta, Ozil and Silva. He’s currently having a great run of form as Klopp uses him in the false 9 position, but he still has a long way to go before living up to his compatriot’s flattering words of praise.
