Liverpool: Roberto Firmino reveals year-long Anfield pursuit amid Manchester

Firmino confirmed that he had sought the advice of Philippe Coutinho before finalising his move to Merseyside, and says his Brazilian colleague has given his new club a glowing reference.

Roberto Firmino has revealed to Bild that Liverpool had been attempting to secure his signature for “over a year” before he decided to join the Anfield outfit. I’ve been lucky sufficient to play for lots of prime golf equipment in my profession and with that comes pressure and that’s what you need. “There was a certain sympathy from the beginning and I had a good feeling from the start”.

“Obviously I did some research on the internet too”.

Instead, the 23-year-old sees the money paid for him as a positive, calling it “a recognition and confirmation” of his talent. He admitted that, “right away, [he] had a good feeling” about the move and knows about the “gigantic significance of the club worldwide“. Physically it is a completely new challenge, with the three (domestic) competitions and the Europa League there could be more than twice the number of games.

“Being at the stadium at Anfield with the fans”.

Firmino’s performances earned him his first call-up to the Brazilian national team past year too, and since making his debut in November 2014, he has played 10 games and scored four goals.

It was a signing which certainly lifted the mood around Anfield after a poor 2014/15 campaign and one that made other sides stand up and take notice. I am already having goosebumps if I think of them singing “You’ll never walk alone”,’ he told Bild.

There’s been plenty of reasons for optimism in the squad already, and with Firmino joining up along with the likes of Coutinho, Emre Can, and, very likely, additional new signing Christian Benteke, Liverpool can hopefully feel confident heading into the season opener at Stoke City on August 9th. “He was totally raving about the club”.