Liverpool legend John Barnes said some things about Gini Wijnaldum that not everyone liked, but he’s right about the Dutchman.
Gini Wijnaldum joined Liverpool after suffering relegation with Newcastle United, but the midfielder had just scored 11 Premier League goals during his debut campaign in England and impressed in parts.
Four goals against Norwich City highlighted his attacking ability as Steve McClaren gave him a freer role than Jurgen Klopp has, but that doesn’t take away from the type of player that Gini is.
The 29-year-old arrived for £24.75 million in 2016 and has gone on to make 177 appearances for Liverpool but has scored just 18 goals and registered 16 assists in nearly five years at Anfield.
That’s a far cry from the start of Wijnaldum’s career at Feyenoord and PSV. 63 goals and 24 assists in 220 Eredivisie games earned him that move to the Toon, and then Liverpool decided to swoop.
He’s a very different player now than he was when he arrived, and that’s what John Barnes is talking about. Back in 2016, the Dutchman was someone who had just been relegated from a poor Newcastle and Liverpool spent fairly big money on the player. He wasn’t really fancied.
John Barnes said that Klopp is excellent at moving for players who would fit in with his system, rather than just the flashier performers out there.
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This was in relation to Liverpool being linked with players like Jack Grealish or James Maddison.
"“Klopp signs players to fit his system, not only because they looked great at their previous clubs.Ninety nine per cent of people wouldn’t pick [Jordan] Henderson and [Georginio] Wijnaldum above Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva or even Jack Grealish or James Maddison, but they work for Liverpool.”"
A lot of the fans who are taking exception to this aren’t really picking up what Barnes is throwing down. The Liverpool legend is saying that, at the time of his transfer, Wijnaldum wasn’t the most highly fancied player out there.
He’s good now, but that’s because Klopp has improved the player and moulded him to the style he wants to play.
Barnes isn’t saying they aren’t great players now, but rather passing comment on the landscape back when they were first signed.
In the past, the side would have probably gone out and bought an exciting forward without thinking about how they would fit into the overall team. And normally it doesn’t end too well.