Football News

Takumi Minamino: Shinji Kagawa advice helped convince Liverpool signing to make transfer

By Steve Jennings

Minamino

Published: 11:10, 27 February 2020

Takumi Minamino has revealed a conversation with his countryman Shinji Kagawa helped sway his decision to join Liverpool.

Kagawa, who spent two years of his career at Manchester United, played under Jurgen Klopp during the Liverpool manager’s time with Borussia Dortmund.

How did Kagawa sway Minamino’s decision to join Liverpool? Five things to know…

  • Minamino joined Liverpool from FC Red Bull Salzburg last month.
  • His countryman Kagawa played under Liverpool boss Klopp at Borussia Dortmund.
  • The former Man Utd midfielder told Minamino that Klopp was among the world’s best managers.
  • Minamino swiftly made the move from Austria to Anfield.
  • The Japanese midfielder is yet to start in the Premier League but there are high hopes for his future.

After struggling to make an impact at Old Trafford, Kagawa returned to Dortmund for another stint with the Bundesliga side – he has since moved on to play for Real Zaragoza in Spain.

Minamino will be hoping to make more of an impression in the Premier League having joined Liverpool from FC Red Bull Salzburg last month.

And the Japan international has revealed Kagawa’s endorsement of Klopp as the “one of the best coaches in the world” helped convince him to make the move to Anfield.

“I spoke to Maya Yoshida at Southampton but I didn’t ask him about Liverpool,” Minamino said. “I just told him that I would be coming to the Premier League, though, I never told him it would be Liverpool!

“I also spoke to Shinji Kagawa as he had played for Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund, too. Klopp talked to me about Shinji and Shinji talked about Klopp and from that, I could sense that they had a really good relationship.

“Shinji said that Klopp was one of the best coaches in the world and now that I am here and working for him I have also realised that he is one of the best coaches around.”

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Klopp appears to be gradually introducing Minamino into the Liverpool first-team, handing the 25-year-old just two starts so far – both in the FA Cup.

That said, he could have a crucial role to play as Liverpool continue to compete in three competitions this term.