Dutch striker, Cody Gakpo has explained that he joined Liverpool despite strong interest from Manchester United to help his personal development.
Gakpo said this in an interview a few days after joining Jurgen Klopp’s team.
The 23-year-old was close to moving to England last summer, with Manchester United believed to be the frontrunner.
The move was not to be as the Dutch international stayed with PSV Eindhoven.
After an impressive performance at the World Cup in Qatar, where he netted three times, Gakpo was quickly picked up by Liverpool before the January transfer window officially opens.
Speaking on the move, the striker told the club’s official website: “I think this is a great club for me to come in and try to show what I can [do] and try to help the team to achieve more beautiful moments that they already did in the past years.
“I think for me personally it’s also good to develop here and there’s a lot of great players here [who] I can learn a lot of things from.”
He disclosed that compatriot, Virgil Van Dijk played a vital role in his decision to join the Anfield side.
“At the moment I was calling [in] with the coach, he came into the office of the coach and then he saw me and we chatted a little bit. We spoke a lot over the phone [in] the last days. What he told me was that this is the right move for me to make and for me to develop and to become a better player.
“That the club is a really big and massive club but also like a real family – I think that’s also very important for me because I’m a family guy. He said only good things. I’m also happy that he’s here, so he can help me with some stuff. I’m really grateful to be here,” the player stated.
Gakpo is expected to officially join the club on January 1, 2023, in a deal worth up to £45 million.