Joel Matip has admitted that he is interested in extending his contract with Liverpool, expressing the feeling that leaving Anfield is not a decision to be made lightly.
The experienced centre-back has been with Liverpool for eight seasons, having joined as one of Jurgen Klopp’s initial signings in the summer of 2016 after transferring from Schalke on a free transfer.
Matip, who signed his last contract extension in October 2019, is currently in the last year of his deal and will be 33 when the next season begins.
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He could potentially follow a trend of players leaving the club as free agents during Klopp’s tenure, including Roberto Firmino, James Milner, and Gini Wijnaldum. However, the defender expresses his desire to renew his contract with the club.
As quoted by the Liverpool Echo, he said:
“Of course, Schalke was my youth club – as a Schalke fan it was an absolute honour to play there. I had the opportunity to do that for a long time and here in Liverpool, with these absolute top conditions, you don’t just walk away.”
“I’m at an age where I don’t think so much about the future anymore. If it was only these two clubs in the end, I would be perfectly happy.”
Matip, who initially began the season as a bench player, has been in the starting lineup for the past three Premier League matches due to Ibrahima Konate’s hamstring injury. He noted that having competition for positions is a usual and expected part of the game.
Liverpool will kick off their Europa League campaign against LASK in Austria on Thursday evening. Manager Klopp is expected to utilize his entire squad for the European competition this season.
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Matip will compete with Van Dijk, Konate, Joe Gomez, and young talent Jarell Quansah for a starting position at centre-back against LASK.
In the midst of intense competition and the desire to secure positions, the core values of teamwork, commitment, and an unwavering love for the sport are there to see.
For individuals like Matip, it’s all about seizing every opportunity, whether it’s on the field or in their overall approach to the game.
