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Simon Mignolet confessed why it was difficult for him to complete a transfer from Liverpool in 2019

The former Liverpool goalkeeper confessed the reason behind his departure

By Martin Fernandez

The former Liverpool goalkeeper confessed the reason behind his departure
The former Liverpool goalkeeper confessed the reason behind his departure
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Simon Mignolet Opens Up About His Decision to Leave Liverpool in 2019

The risk of returning to Belgium and the desire to keep playing

The Context of His Departure

Simon Mignolet, former Liverpool goalkeeper, has shared the details behind his decision to leave the club in the summer of 2019. Despite being part of a team that had just won the Champions League under Jürgen Klopp, Mignolet faced an uncertain future due to Alisson Becker’s undisputed position as the starting goalkeeper.

The Need to Play

After 18 months as Alisson’s backup, Mignolet expressed his frustration and desire to play regularly. While he had no complaints about being behind Alisson, the Belgian knew he was in the prime of his career as a goalkeeper and didn’t want to spend more years on the bench. "I knew that anywhere else I could do a good job," Mignolet said in an interview. "I wasn’t going to sit on the bench for the next two or three years."

The Complicated Move to Brugge

Mignolet eventually decided to return to Belgium and joined Club Brugge in a £6.4 million deal. However, the process was complicated as Liverpool was content with him as their backup, and the transfer was challenging due to his salary and the remaining years on his contract. "Every time you go to a club, they say: 'Yes, but you have to give up a large part of your salary,' or 'Liverpool is asking too much,'" the goalkeeper explained.

The Risk of Returning to Belgium

At first, Mignolet hesitated about returning to Belgium at the age of 32, as he felt it was a risky step in his career. However, over time, he recognized that it was the best decision he could have made. "Looking back now, it was the best choice I could have made, but at the time, it was a risk," Mignolet added, who thought it would have been better to return to Belgium later in his career, at 34 or 35 years old.

A Decisive Step for His Career

Despite the challenges and the risks involved, Mignolet’s decision to return to his home country allowed him to continue playing at a high level and extend his professional career, something that wouldn’t have been possible if he had stayed at Liverpool without regular playing time.


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