Former Liverpool captain Paul Ince has explained why his old club should keep hold of Roberto Firmino.
As reported by the ECHO last month, Firmino will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after he decided not to renew his expiring contract. The Brazil international personally informed Jurgen Klopp about his decision.
The Brazil international completed his move to Anfield from Hoffenheim in a £21.3m deal back in 2015. Since then he has scored 109 goals and provided 79 assists in 359 appearances.
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Firmino formed a prolific front three partnership with Mohamed Salah and now Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane. During their time together the trio won seven titles with Liverpool, among them the Champions League in the 2018/19 season and the Premier League title a year later.
And Ince, who was sacked by Reading on Tuesday morning, believes as much as Liverpool have invested in attacking talent like Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, they can’t offer Klopp’s side what Firmino does.
“The reason that Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah were unplayable a couple of years ago was because of Firmino,” he told Premier League Odds.
“He used to pull centre halves out of position to allow Salah and Mane space to run into. As much as Liverpool have invested in very good players like Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, they don't do what Firmino does.
“If I was Liverpool, I'd be looking to keep hold of him. Going abroad was the best thing I've ever done.
“There's not the same language barrier anymore which is why Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho have done well at Borussia Dortmund but when I was playing a lot of players didn't go abroad because the language was an issue.
“Inter Milan is a wonderful club with wonderful, wonderful fans so if Firmino doesn't sign a contract at Liverpool then Inter would be a fantastic move for him.”
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