Liverpool Legend Roberto Firmino ‘Delighted’ To Sign For FC Barcelona

Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino would be “delighted” to sign for FC Barcelona amid interest from a string other clubs, according to SPORT.

The Brazilian bid a tearful farewell to the crowd at Anfield at the weekend, scoring an 89th minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa which was the perfect send-off after eight years in northwest England where he won every major trophy on offer.

When it was already clear that Firmino would move on once his contract expires on June 30, El Nacional was among the first outlets to report that the 31-year-old had offered his services to Barca through his agent.

Then, in late April, the Daily Mail reported that sources in the forward’s camp had confirmed how ‘Bobby’ has already agreed to join the Blaugrana in 2023/2024.

Transfer market experts such as Gerard Romero denied knowledge of the development. A month later, though, Firmino would be “delighted” to play at Camp Nou – or rather the Montjuic Stadium first next term – amid offers from the Premier
PINC
League, Inter Milan in Italy, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and even Barca’s bitter rivals Real Madrid according to SPORT.

Firmino earns a reported £9.4 million ($11.7 million) a year at Liverpool, which he would have to dramatically lower to fit in with Barca’s debt-ridden economic reality at a time when they also have to shave €200 million ($216 million) from the wage bill.

With Robert Lewandowski leading the front line, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is currently Barca’s first choice to sign as a second striker but that is dependent on the Gabon international being released from his Chelsea contract and receiving an alarmingly low salary.

Firmino will have to see how his positional rival’s situation plays out at Stamford Bridge, but there is still plenty of time over the summer to make the switch to Catalonia as director of football Mateu Alemany pulls whatever strings he can to navigate Financial Fair Play limits.

Above all, Barca will look to sign Lionel Messi and guarantee the Argentine’s return primarily when he too becomes a free agent on the same date as Firmino.