Cody Gakpo has revealed that he spoke to Ruud Van Nistelrooy about moving to Manchester United from PSV in the summer before completing a move to Liverpool last month.
The Dutchman shone for the Netherlands at the World Cup in Qatar late last year, where he scored three goals in five games as Louis van Gaal’s side were defeated by eventual tournament winners Argentina in the quarterfinals. .
He also started the campaign in excellent fashion for the Eredivisie side, scoring 13 goals and registering 17 assists in 24 appearances (in all competitions).
“To be honest, I talked to him a lot about United in the summer when it looked like the transfer might come,” said Gakpo (quoted by the Liverpool Echo). “But in the winter, not really. It was Ruud’s wish that I go to a great club, and I think I have achieved that with Liverpool.
“There was a lot of speculation in the summer. It was the first window where it could be moved and then, yes, it affected me a bit.
“But then there was a moment where I just said, ‘forget it, play your best game, and maybe it will happen next summer or in the winter.’ That’s what I tried to do and it worked out.”
The versatile striker also spoke about how his move to Merseyside came about over the busy Christmas period.
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“I heard about the interest from Liverpool, and I think five days later the deal was done,” he added. “My coach and my brother have known this for a long time, but I told them at the World Cup not to tell me anything because I have to concentrate.
“As soon as I heard about the interest, the feeling was, ‘come on, come on.’ Do you have a second day of Christmas? Boxing Day, right? She was with family, including nieces and aunts, and was getting calls all the time about Liverpool.
“But on Christmas day, I wasn’t on my phone. That is a very important day, so the phone was not there. It was the next day that it happened.”
The Reds’ new No. 18 has yet to find the back of the net for Jurgen Klopp’s side in his six appearances so far, but he will lick his lips at the prospect of scoring his first goal for the club against Everton. at Anfield tomorrow. match in which his compatriot Virgil van Dijk scored his first goal with the Reds back in 2018.
“Guys who say it doesn’t affect them when they don’t score are lying,” he said. “I am an attacking player, so of course I like to score goals or give assists, and I also like to win.
“I’m just trying to improve my game and adapt my way of playing to the way the team plays. If I can do that, the rest will follow.
“Virgil has told me about the derby and has told me that it is going to be a great fight. He also told me that he scored his first goal against Everton, and now I expect exactly the same”.
Liverpool are yet to win a league game this year and we need to find form quickly if we are to have any hope of finishing in the top four.
Newcastle, who are currently bottom of the Champions League, are 12 points ahead, even though they have played two more games than us.
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