OLANREWAJU IBITOYE
Giorginio Wijnaldum has claimed he “didn’t feel loved” by some sections of the fanbase which ultimately led to his departure. The Times reports.
The 30-year-old Dutch completed a free transfer from Liverpool to Paris Saint Germain this summer after running down his contract and helping Jurgen Klopp’s side win the Champions League and the English Premier League after a five-year stint.
According to him: “I have to say also there was social media, when it went bad, I was the player who they blamed – that I wanted to leave. Every day in training and in the games, I gave everything I had to bring it to a good end because, during the years, Liverpool meant so much to me and because of the way the fans in the stadium were treating me.
“My feeling was that the fans in the stadium and the fans on social media were two different kinds. The fans in the stadium always supported me. Even when they came back [after the Covid lockout], already knowing that I was going to leave, they still supported me and, in the end, they gave me a great farewell.
“On social media, if we lost, I was the one who got the blame. There was a moment when I was like: ‘Wow. If they only knew what I was doing to stay fit and play every game.’ Other players might have said: ‘OK, I am not fit.’ You get players in their last year who are like: ‘I’m not playing because it is a risk.’ I did the opposite.
“I didn’t always play good but, after the game, I could look in the mirror and say: ‘I gave it all. I trained hard to get better.’ Even with the physios … I took the most possible treatment I could get. I cannot remember when I had a day off because I played so many games and basically it was too much for the body but I did everything to stay fit.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, has dismissed claims by Georginio Wijnaldum and suggests the Dutchman left Anfield due to purely financial gains rather than abuse from fans on social media.
“I love Gini but this is not right,” Carragher said on Twitter. “Social media is a circus and every club has clowns. Turn off your notifications and if it’s bothering you that much delete the app! He wanted more money the club said no, that’s football!”