We recently completed the signing of promising young Charlton Athletic defender Joe Gomez, who looks like a real star of the future. He insists that Brendan Rodgers was the deciding factor in him opting to join Liverpool this summer, and claims after we approached him there was never any chance of him going anywhere else.
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He was well loved at Charlton, and having broken into the first team this past season there were understandably high hopes for him. He conceded that the Charlton fans wanted him to remain at the club for at least another year, but insisted that his ambitions meant he couldn’t possibly turn down a move to Anfield.
“I met him [Rodgers] and that was a defining factor. He was positive and has already shown he will give young players an opportunity,” Gomez said, as quoted by Liverpool FC.
“I thought carefully where would be the best place and give me the best chance to play – it was Liverpool.
“I can understand Charlton fans wanting me to stay another year – that it would be best for me to develop – but I’m ambitious and want to keep learning. Going to Liverpool was hard to turn down.
“I had my mind set on Liverpool and tried not to let the talk of other clubs distract me. I didn’t really focus too much on anything else.
“My family came up with me because they all had a part to play. They supported me. I wanted them to be there because they have helped me a lot.”
It’s hard to see Gomez getting a huge amount of first team football this season, as the 18-year-old has most probably been bought with the future in mind. His development is years beyond his age however, and he may well be ready for a starting spot in the English top flight sooner rather than later.
He had a message of thanks for the fans of his former club, imploring them to understand the situation he was in.
“I 100 per cent want Charlton fans to know I didn’t want to leave on bad terms,” he continued.
“I want them to understand how much I appreciated their support. It was important I committed to the club at the time – I wanted to play for them and stay. That’s why I signed long-term. But this opportunity came up and I felt I wanted to go.”
It’s fantastic to see someone so young being so respectful, and hopefully he can form the same attachment with the fans and the club on Merseyside.