Missed summer target admits his “head was a mess” after Jurgen Klopp’s pursuit

Posted by

Piotr Zielinski has lifted the lid on our failed attempts to buy him during the summer transfer window.

It was one of the early summer’s most drawn out transfer sagas, but the player ultimately decided to move to Napoli instead.

We even had a £11.75 million bid rejected by Udinese. Napoli eventually paid out around £13 million to secure his services.

He says he first spoke to Klopp in January:

“Everyone said: ‘great offer, Klopp wants you, it’s a fairytale in terms of finances’. All fine, but I wasn’t convinced.

“I was driving my car and I said to my girlfriend: ‘No, red light, I’m not leaving’. I felt great in Empoli, I didn’t want to leave the lads when we were battling for the European places.

“My head was a mess. Liverpool finally got a plane and I met with Jurgen Klopp. He said he wanted me in his team. I saw a different world and after returning my head was even a bigger mess.” (Echo)

SEE MORE
Ranieri makes bold Liverpool prediction
Henderson comments on captaincy
Balotelli lived in exile

In the end, we went on to sign Gini Wijnaldum from Newcastle. No one know whether or not that deal would have happened if Klopp had got his man.

Napoli have played two Serie A games so far in the new season — but Zielinski didn’t start either of them as he came off the bench as a late sub in their 4-2 win over AC Milan and in their 2-2 draw with lowly Pescara.

Do you regret not getting him? Let us know your thoughts in the comments…

Follow @DanPriceMX on Twitter

More Stories Piotr Zielinski