Lucas Leiva was a staple of Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool facet early on, however the long-serving midfielder first needed to be satisfied to show down a transfer to China.
Lucas, who by the point Klopp arrived at Anfield had already been with the Reds for eight years, performed 65 occasions within the supervisor’s first two seasons in cost.
That included 42 begins, 9 of these sporting the captain’s armband, because the German relied upon his expertise and management inside his new squad.
Lucas finally left to affix Lazio after a decade with the membership in 2017, however as he recalled in a dialog with LiverpoolFC.com, his exit may have come a lot sooner.
“He arrived in October 2015 and within the January I had an enormous provide from China,” Lucas defined.
“I bear in mind a few days earlier than the sport in opposition to Man United, I stated, ‘pay attention, I’ve had this provide. Let’s be honest, it’s some huge cash and I’m unsure if I’m going to play right here. What do you assume?’.
“He stated, ‘Lucas, I perceive, however I can not allow you to go as a result of I solely arrived 4 months in the past and I would like you. You’ll play an enormous half’.
“He at all times used to say, ‘I can not promise you’re going to play as a lot as you need, however I can promise you that you simply’re going to play an enormous half’.
“That’s why I at all times appreciated Jurgen – as a result of he was at all times very sincere.”
Whereas Klopp made it clear that Lucas wouldn’t be a first-choice starter for his evolving facet, there was a respect between the pair that persuaded the Brazilian to stay round.
“I at all times felt he was going to construct a brand new crew with new gamers and a brand new type of play,” he continued.
“I used to be intelligent sufficient to grasp that my type of play wouldn’t essentially match the way in which he needed.
“He was at all times very sincere, I used to be at all times very sincere with him.”
Lucas had one other provide to go away in January 2017, with Inter Milan and Atletico Mineiro amongst these linked, however Klopp urged him to remain one final time.
“In one other second I had an excellent alternative however Jurgen stated, ‘I nonetheless want you’,” he detailed.
“I used to be coming to my final yr of my Liverpool contract and he stated, ”subsequent yr, if one thing good comes for you, I’ll allow you to out’.
“That was the case. That pre-season when Lazio got here in for me, I felt it was the best second.
“They have been flying to Hong Kong within the afternoon and within the morning got here that Lazio provide. He stated, ‘keep again, get all the pieces accomplished, don’t fear’.
“It was emotional. I cried and he did just a little bit as properly due to the respect we had for one another.”
