Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum taunts Tottenham and reveals: I would have joined you… before Jurgen Klopp swooped
Ex-Newcastle man failed to agree terms with Spurs and Kop boss Jurgen Klopp signed him instead for £25million
GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM set his heart on going to Tottenham and today he lines up at White Hart Lane — but for Liverpool.
The Dutch ace was invited to Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino’s home for summer talks and told his agent: I’m going to join Tottenham.
But then-Newcastle man Wijnaldum failed to agree terms with Spurs and Kop boss Jurgen Klopp signed him instead for a fee of £25million.
He hopes to show Tottenham what they missed out on when they take on the Kop in today’s early kick-off.
Midfielder Wijnaldum, 25, revealed: “I went to Mauricio Pochettino’s house before I spoke to Liverpool.
“After the meeting I told my agent ‘I’m going to join Spurs’.
“Pochettino is a terrific manager, if you look at the way his teams play. I was impressed with what he had to say.
“He set out his way of working and I was convinced he could improve any player no matter what age they are. His method gives players such specific duties they become better as a result.
“I saw Spurs as being a very good fit for me — but we were unable to agree financial terms with them.
“With hindsight, though, that was not a disaster.”
That is because Liverpool boss Klopp was on hand to sign the former PSV Eindhoven star.
Wijnaldum hit 11 goals in 40 games for the Toon last season but was unable to prevent Rafa Benitez’s side being relegated.
Wijnaldum said: “Pochettino was terrific but then Jurgen Klopp made me feel even more relaxed.
“From the moment I first spoke with him I knew that I wanted to join Liverpool.
“I fell for Klopp — hook, line and sinker. He invited me to his house and before I was even inside he was asking me why I’d been on the bench last season.
“I explained it was a decision taken by Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez and he said he didn’t understand it.
“We then began talking and I got more enthusiastic by the minute.
“Klopp was just as energetic as he appears on TV.
“He radiated enthusiasm as he talked about matches and how he wants his team to play — and he struck me with his passion for the game.
“He said how English clubs like to leave things late with transfers but he doesn’t. And told me ‘If you want to join us we’ll put in a bid tomorrow’.
“I thought ‘Let’s see what happens’ but Liverpool duly phoned Newcastle the next day.”
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And Wijnaldum is now a fully signed-up member of Klopp’s ever-increasing fan club.
The player hailed his new manager’s enthusiasm and training methods for making him fitter than ever.
Wijnaldum, speaking to Dutch football mag Voetbal International, said: “Klopp is not an act — he is exactly as he seems.
“I know no one who can motivate as strongly as he does. He is a people manager.
“Liverpool don’t have the best players in the Premier League but that doesn’t matter. He says it’s not the best team that wins but the one with the best plan.
“He wants us to keep moving and applying pressure on our opponents for 90 minutes.
“I hated pre-season training and running — and complained about it — but once it is over you are happy.
“When we were 4-1 up at Arsenal and didn’t feel tired at all it gave us an incredible sense of power.”
Newcastle paid PSV Eindhoven £14.7m for Wijnaldum just 13 months ago.
He added: “Last year lots of clubs wanted to sign me.
“But I didn’t want to go to Italy, France or Germany — the Premier League was my aim. Everton were interested in me and I had a good feeling about them until I went to look at Newcastle. People in Holland don’t realise what a gigantic club they are.
“And after a talk with Steve McClaren I was on board.
“The club’s plans looked promising but, in practice, few of them came to fruition.
“I have never lost as many matches in a season and in the end we went down.
“But I stand behind my decision 100 per cent. I went with my feelings and I can look back on a good season.
“I can have no complaints about the good fortune I have had in my career.”