Brazil international Roberto Firmino is set to become Liverpool’s second-most expensive signing after a £29 million deal was agreed with Hoffenheim.
If you’d never heard of him before, don’t worry. We’re here to guide you through…
Where’s he from?
Roberto Firmino, cuando vestÃa los colores del modesto Figueirense. Acaba de anotar su primer gol para Brasil pic.twitter.com/ifljQ1fCWq
— Maracanaço #m50 (@Maracana50) November 18, 2014
Firmino was born in Maceio – that’s the same birthplace as three-times World Cup winner Mario Zagallo, fact fans. He started his career at Clube de Regatas Brasil’s youth team before moving on to Figueirense.
When did he break through?
He started young, as you’d expect, making his professional debut for Figueirense at the age of 17 in 2009. He scored his first goal in May 2010, playing in Brazil’s second tier, and six months later he was off to Germany, signed by Bundesliga club Hoffenheim. That’s a pretty quick rise by anyone’s standards.
How did he settle?
He was bought very much as one for the future by Hoffenheim, but quickly bagged himself a first-team debut. Still only 19, he got his first goal before the end of the season, a match-winner against Eintracht Frankfurt, and all seemed to be going well.
I sense a but coming…
Things didn’t go exactly to plan in his second – he was dropped at one point for disciplinary reasons. But he bounced back to become a key figure for the team and he was named Germany’s breakthrough player of the season in his fourth Bundesliga campaign after netting 16 goals in 33 appearances.
So he’s a goalscorer then?
And a creator – he has recorded 21 assists over the last two seasons, more than any other Brazilian in the top five European leagues. Combining his own strike tally with his assists he has been involved in 45 goals in his last 66 outings in the German top flight. Overall he scored 47 goals in 151 appearances. You’ve got to like those numbers.
Any Daniel Sturridge-esque injury issues we should know about?
Nope – in fact his fitness record will undoubtedly be one of the things that Liverpool liked about him. He featured in 33 of Hoffenheim’s 34 league fixtures in each of the last three seasons, which should offer manager Brendan Rodgers some reassurance.
That’s good to know. Is he in the Brazil team?
Yes, he’s at the Copa America right now. He made his debut for Brazil against Turkey just last November. He scored his first international goal six days later against Austria and currently has four goals from nine appearances, including last weekend’s Copa America winner against Venezuela. He has already scored in England with a goal in the friendly against Chile at the Emirates Stadium in March.
What’s the fee?
If the full extent of Firmino’s transfer is realised (£22 million plus £7 million of add-ons) he will become the club’s second most expensive signing after the £35 million deal for Andy Carroll. Liverpool fans will hope he proves a little more successful than that ill-fated signing…
Source: SNAPPA
