According to The Daily Mail, Roberto Firmino has agreed to join Barcelona this summer after rejecting down the opportunity to stay at Liverpool. The Reds are staring at a summer overhaul as a host of stars alongside Firmino, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and even Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are expected to depart.
The 31-year-old Brazilian attacker has already announced that he will leave Anfield when his contract expires in June. Firmino was offered a new contract by the Reds but chose not to prolong his eight-year stint on Merseyside after struggling for consistent game time over the previous two seasons.
Barcelona to kick-start free-agent acquisitions with Liverpool striker
Barcelona are thought to have won the race for Firmino’s signing ever since he announced his imminent departure last month, with the Mail suggesting that he will join Xavi’s side. Barcelona are on track to win their first La Liga title since 2018 and want to enhance their attack without breaking the budget, as Robert Lewandowski is now their only recognised striker.
Since then, the Brazil international has been linked with moves to clubs all around Europe, including Inter Milan. Barcelona has also been mentioned as a possible destination for him, with the La Liga leaders reportedly making a substantial bid. Despite their well-documented financial difficulties, Barcelona hopes to make significant additions to their roster ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Firmino is an excellent target for the La Liga giants since he would provide backup for Robert Lewandowski while his acquisition will come without having to break the bank. The Catalans are going to be in the market for free agents for at least next few transfer windows as it should be noted that they are also attempting to re-sign Lionel Messi this summer. They aim to re-sign the Argentine on free when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain ends at the conclusion of the season.
Firmino joined Liverpool in the summer of 2015 as one of former manager Brendan Rodgers’ final signings in a £29 million deal from Hoffenheim in Germany. The 55-cap Brazil international went on to become a prominent player for the Reds, appearing in 360 games across all competitions scoring 109 goals and providing 79 assists. Firmino has been instrumental in Liverpool’s recent success under Jurgen Klopp, winning seven titles, including one Premier League and one UEFA Champions League.
However, the 31-year-old has since dropped down the pecking order. Firmino’s playing time has been decreased due to the arrivals of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo in the last two transfer windows. Since December, he has only started one Premier League game.
As a result, Firmino has concluded that his productive time at Liverpool has come to an end. If the aforementioned report is to be believed, he will now look to help Barcelona achieve new heights next season. The Blaugrana were previously linked with a move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Chelsea. They look to have made the decision to sign Firmino on a free transfer.