Tag: Georginio Wijnaldum

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I DIDN’T FEEL LOVED AND APPRECIATED – GINI WIJNALDUM SPEAKS ON LIVERPOOL EXIT.

Georginio Wijnaldum has opened up about the reasons for his departure from Liverpool this summer and said he didn’t “feel loved and appreciated” by some at the club.

Wijnaldum, 30, joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after his contract at Anfield expired following five years with the Premier League club.

The midfielder played a key role in helping Liverpool win the 2019 Champions League as well as the club’s first ever Premier League title the following year but said he didn’t feel valued by some members.

“There was a moment when I didn’t feel loved and appreciated,” he told reporters. “Not my teammates, not the people at Melwood [training ground].

“From them I know, I can say they all love me and I love them. It was not from that side. More the other side.”

Wijnaldum was given a guard of honour in his final game at Liverpool after they claimed a 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace to secure a top four finish last season.

He was applauded by the playing and coaching staff and received a huge ovation from the Liverpool supporters but said he didn’t feel appreciated by some fans online.

“I have to say also there was social media,” he added. “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-19 break], 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.”

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WIJNALDUM THREATENS NETHERLANDS WALK-OFF AMID RAINBOW ARMBAND PLANS

Georginio Wijnaldum will wear a rainbow-coloured armband when he captains the Netherlands against the Czech Republic in Budapest on Monday and has declared that he and his teammates could leave the field if they are subjected to any form of abuse.

Hungary has faced criticism over its treatment of LGBTQ people after passing a law that prohibits the sharing of content in schools that could be deemed to promote homosexuality and gender change.

Football’s attempts to show support have also created controversy, with UEFA launching an investigation into Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s use of a rainbow armband – a nod to the flag of the LGBTQ community – before acknowledging the motif as “a team symbol for diversity”.

However, the governing body did not allow Munich’s Allianz Arena to be lit up in those colours for Germany’s final Group F game against Hungary on Thursday, ostensibly due to its rules regarding political neutrality.

But that has not discouraged Wijnaldum from plans to wear an armband featuring the words “One Love” for the first time in the tournament when the Dutch head to the Hungarian capital.

“It is not just against Hungary,” he said. “The armband means a lot because we stand for diversity – one love means everybody is a part of it and everybody should be free to be who they are.

“In our opinion [the right to be yourself] has been encroached upon. As players, we have a podium to do whatever we can to help.”

UEFA launched an investigation into allegations that France star Kylian Mbappe and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo faced racist and homophobic abuse during their appearances in Budapest.

And Wijnaldum has warned that he will be ready to take his team off the pitch should any such incidents occur during Monday’s last-16 clash.

“UEFA should be there to protect the players and make the decision,” he said. “It should not be left to the players. Players often get punished for protecting themselves so UEFA needs to take a lead role in this.

“I have said I don’t really know how I will react in such a situation. I thought first that I would walk off the pitch but maybe not now because maybe the opponent will think: ‘Let them [in the crowd] throw racist slurs and they will walk off the pitch’.

“It could be the case that I will walk off the pitch but I will speak with the players about it first.”

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LIVERPOOL OFFER WIJNALDUM NEW CONTRACT TO WARD OFF BARCELONA INTEREST.

Liverpool have reportedly tabled a new three-year contract for Georginio Wijnaldum to fend off interest from Barcelona.

The Dutchman was closely linked with a move to the Spanish giants during the summer.

Barca manager Ronald Koeman is a big fan of the player and has managed him through the national team.

It involves a three-year contract extension and a big increase in wages.

They’re willing to improve his weekly wage from £75,000 to around £115,000 in a bid to keep him at Anfield.

The midfielder is yet to respond to the offer but he is expected to do so in the coming days.

The news is a big revelation in the ongoing Wijnaldum transfer saga.

He was thought to have begun negotiations with Barca officials during the summer.

Those talks never materialised into a transfer which is why he remains in England.

The signing of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich was widely seen as manager Jurgen Klopp preparing for life without the 30-year-old.

Due to the current injury crisis at Liverpool, Klopp will now need to keep hold of the player.

He is missing Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk. Teammates Fabinho and Andy Robertson are also out through injury.

Liverpool face a new threat from continental Europe to keep Wijnaldum. Apparently Inter Milan have enquired about the player’s availability.

They’re now set to challenge Barca for the player’s signature, as he is seen as a great all-round midfielder.

It remains to be seen whether a new contract is enough to keep Wijnaldum at Anfield.

Liverpool’s next fixture is against Leicester City on Sunday 22nd November.