Takumi Minamino has revealed that Sadio Mane and Naby Keita have have helped him settle since he made his switch from RB Salzburg during the January transfer window.
What did he say?
The Japan international transferred from the Austrian club last month for £7.25m, and he has been speaking about how he has adapted to Liverpool and the city since then.
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He told the club’s official website in regards to Keita and Mane: “You know that you are part of the team, but because my English is not good enough yet their help has been really important.
“They are still helping me on some occasions and during the first days they taught me the team rules, things like what time the meetings started and how the team functions on a daily basis.
“At the moment I speak a lot with the players who can speak German.”
Big help
People often don’t realise, but it is hugely important that a new player has someone to connect with when he makes the switch to a fresh atmosphere. Usually, that could be a compatriot, but the 25-year-old is the first-ever Japanese player to pull on the liver bird.
As such, those who have walked the same path as him are likely to be those with whom he is able to establish a quick bond, and of course both Keita and Mane appeared for Salzburg before leaving for different clubs – the former moved to RB Leipzig whilst the latter was signed by Southampton.
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All three of them did well with Salzburg – Mane scored 45 goals in 87 matches, Keita 20 in 81 and Minamino 64 in 199. The Senegal international, in particular, has hit the heights at Liverpool, picking up the Premier League Golden Boot last season whilst earning himself fourth place in last year’s Ballon d’Or rankings. Keita, though, has failed to light up Anfield on a regular basis as he continues to struggle with injury issues. Minamino is still a novice at the club – he has made just four appearances to date so far – but Klopp will be hoping that he has a similar impact to the left winger rather than the midfielder.
Meanwhile, this Liverpool man is of interest to one of his former clubs.