Real Betis had lowered the price of their left-back Junior Firpo, who eventually joined Barcelona, though he had been a Liverpool target for quite some time. The Spaniard had been one of the most highly-rated players in La Liga and was on the radar of some of the big-name clubs in Europe, including the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona.
The player had been on the radar of the Reds, who are keen to find a potential replacement for Alberto Moreno. Moreno had been released by the Merseyside club earlier this summer. Firpo was expected to come into the side as a backup for Andy Robertson. The defensive superstar had been phenomenal in the last term, as Jurgen Klopp’s men went onto win the coveted Champions League title.
The Story About The Future Of This Top Target
The La Liga side, who initially had valued the player at £32m had lowered their asking price. This was definitely good news for the Reds. According to the report, the player was being valued back then at £23m by Real Betis and was possibly on his way to joining the Merseyside club this summer.
Known for his darting runs down the left-hand side and his ability to defend in the most adverse of situations, Firpo had been linked with a move to Manchester United and Barcelona as well (who eventually signed him). Both the clubs had been looking for a viable option as a backup for their current left-back, Luke Shaw and Jordi Alba respectively. However, as the situation had previously turned out to be, the Reds had been leading the race to land the player this summer.
Firpo made 29 appearances for Betis in the last term. He went onto score three goals to show for his efforts in all competitions. He also proved his worth as a brilliant team player and dished out five assists for his teammates. His qualities both as a defender as well as a speedy runner down the left-hand side make him one of the hottest property in Spanish football at the moment. At 22, Firpo is already making headlines for all the right reasons and a move to Liverpool could just be the right decision for him now as far as his career is concerned.
The lowering of Firpo’s asking price should have helped Liverpool reinvigorate their interest in the 22-year-old Spanish ace. They were looking to strengthen their squad for the season. That was with the reigning European champions keen to win the league.
However, a deal did not happen with either Manchester United or Liverpool and here are three reasons why-
Domestic success over United and Liverpool
The Merseyside outfit has struggled to win the league for decades now. The fans and owners are both desperate to finally win it. However, despite being the champions of Europe, they failed to deliver the last time as well. There is no guarantee that they will be able to beat Manchester City. Their aim is to be crowned the champions of England, this time again. This could be one key factor in Firpo’s final decision.
Regular football
Every outfield player wants to play regularly for his side. They want to make the most of their opportunities. However, with Robertson being one of the best left-backs in the world at present, it would not have been easy to take his spot. On the other hand, Jordi Alba has looked inconsistent at times. He can only be dropped once Firpo makes his mark for the champions of Spain. However, there will still be a lot more game-time on offer. Due to this, receiving regular game-time becomes a crucial criterion for a move.
Messi magic
Everyone wants to play with Messi and Ronaldo. However, there are very few who are fortunate to actually do so. Due to this, Firpo would have pushed for a move to the Nou Camp. That was when the Reds decided that they would not sign him. His lucky stars got him the opportunity to play alongside the Argentine international. Why would he even complain??
