‘How Klopp encouraged me to grab Union Berlin’s permanent transfer’
Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed how Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, encouraged him to secure a permanent transfer at Union Berlin.
Awoniyi said Klopp was convinced Union was a good move as the Bundesliga club showed a tremendous interest in securing the signature of the young forward.
Union Berlin parted with a club-record transfer fee to acquire their top transfer target, and Klopp believes that is an indication that Awoniyi is going to a place where he is highly rated.
“He (Klopp) said it was a good thing because he felt like everyone at Union wanted to sign me at the club,” Awoniyi told Kicker.
“He said it was the most important thing for a young player.”
Awoniyi fulfilled a childhood dream when he helped Nigeria win the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and signed for Liverpool shortly after.
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But he never played a single competitive game for the Anfield giants, going out on loan to seven different clubs in six years.
Despite inking a long-term contract with Union Berlin to keep him in Germany for the foreseeable future, the 23-year-old refuses to rule out a future move back to England.
“I am convinced that Union is the best move for me at the moment,” said Awoniyi, before adding: “Maybe one day I’ll go back to England. Who knows.”
Awoniyi lists FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Royal Excel Mouscron, KAA Gent, and Mainz among the clubs he played for on temporary deals before teaming up with Union Berlin last summer.