“Great joy”- Liverpool cult hero speaks for the first time after sealing Anfield exit

Takumi Minamino speaks first words as AS Monaco play after sealing Liverpool transfer exit

Takumi Minamino is now an AS Monaco player after sealing an exit from Liverpool this month. That brings to an end a mixed couple of years for the Japanese international at Anfield.

Taki joined the Reds from RB Salzburg but did not really get going in his first few months as an LFC player. He even spent some time out on loan at Southampton before making his mark on Liverpool.

The 27-year-old was our top-scorer in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup last season, ensuring that the Reds did not end a great season without any trophies. Loved by the fanbase but failing to get minutes under Jurgen Klopp, Minamino is now off to Ligue 1.

He moves for a fee close to £15.5million with add-ons. And speaking after his transfer was finalised, Minamino said on the official AS Monaco website

“It is a great joy for me to join AS Monaco. I am very happy to be part of this very exciting project, at a Club with a great tradition and among the most recognized in Ligue 1.”

It is truly sad to see the back of Minamino. Our number 18 was a great option to have in games where our frontline needed rest, or in cup competitions.

But there lay the problem. He wasn’t selected for games that carried real importance and with the likes of Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz, and Mohamed Salah in the team, it was never going to be busy.

While Mane is off to Bayern Munich, Darwin Nunez joined the Reds this summer. It was never going to get easy for Taki here and hopefully, in Philippe Clement, he has a manager that isn’t shy to play him.

More Liverpool News:

• Transfer News: Liverpool dismiss links to FC Porto winger Otavio
• LFC News: Bayern Munich to get ruthless with Liverpool and Real Madrid target Serge Gnabry
• Transfer News: Juventus taking steps to sign Liverpool target and AS Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo

With the likes of Wissam Ben Yedder, Kevin Volland and Gelson Martins already at Stade Louis II, Minamino would have to be at his best. But he wouldn’t have switched the bench at Liverpool if he was to take up a similar role in France.