Georginio Wijnaldum has opened up on his decision to snub Liverpool stay in favour of a move to PSG this summer.
In a recent interview with L’Equipe (h/t Express), Georginio Wijnaldum has offered insights into his decision to leave Liverpool and move elsewhere. He states that the Merseyside giants made him feel unwanted at the club even though he was keen on prolonging his stay at Anfield.
Unfortunately, a contract extension did not materialise, with Wijnaldum opting to see out his contract that expired in 2021. The midfielder eventually joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, even though he was heavily linked with a move to FC Barcelona.
Formerly of Newcastle United, Wijnaldum joined Liverpool back in 2016. He made a total of 237 competitive appearances during his five-year spell at Anfield, becoming a vital cog in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield unit and helping the club win the Premier League as well as the UEFA Champions League.
The Dutchman’s career at Anfield, though, abruptly came to an end earlier this year when Liverpool failed to agree to a contract extension. Express has recently published excerpts from Wijnaldum’s interview with L’Equipe, where the midfielder has opened up his decision to leave the Merseyside and move on.
“Several months ago, I had expressed the desire to stay in Liverpool but, without going into details, Liverpool did not give me the feeling of wanting to keep me. In these cases, we have to move forward”, Wijnaldum told L’Equipe.
It is a shocking revelation from the former Newcastle United midfielder, given that Klopp had always wanted him to renew his contract at Anfield. Former Liverpool teammate Fabinho had also hailed the Dutchman, before going on to state the Reds will miss his presence in the new season.
During the interview, Wijnaldum also shed light on his failed move to Barcelona. “Barcelona came. I was really happy because, since I was a child, as for the majority of Dutch players, it was the club of my dreams even if I must admit that my idol was Zinedine Zidane.
“I had a good idea to commit to Barca. But the negotiations lasted a very long time and Paris came in. Unlike six years earlier, the club showed me their desire to recruit me. It was time for me to have something else”, he added.
Wijnaldum’s decision to move to PSG has served him well so far, with the French giants signing the likes of Neymar, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes soon after his arrival. It has already made the Parisians one of the favourites in the UEFA Champions League this season, as they look to begin their campaign away at Bruges on Wednesday.
