This is not what Wijnaldum imagined, after five months of playing for Grand Paris, the Netherlands international is willing to let the 31-year-old leave for his career and perhaps for his future. His team-mates don't like him very much and he's open to transfers, especially a return to the Premier League, which is a strange thing, which was an ideal move when the transfer was confirmed in June, but now he could move to Arsenal, West Ham or Newcastle.
How fast the world is moving, like Coutinho before him, life seems to be tough after Wijnaldum left Anfield, he scored beautiful goals at Liverpool and played important games. In fact, in his 5 years in Merseyside, he played more games than anyone else. There are 237 games in total, which is a staggering number for a modern midfielder. In Paris, however, it has changed, with only 11 appearances so far, but 10 off the bench.
"It was very difficult," he admitted in October, revealing that "I was having a very unhappy time and the situation was not what I wanted." "Greater Paris could easily win the title in Ligue 1 and there will be another Champions League round of 16 against Real Madrid, but Pochettino is under pressure and he himself could also return to the Premier League, and despite his amazing individual ability, the team is unbalanced and lacks cohesion. They won the game because of the talent of the superstars, but felt they would lose against better opponents, especially in the Champions League knockout stages.
This may be the price of having a striker squad like Neymar, Mbappe and Messi, but Wijnaldum will help in that regard as he has the ability to sacrifice himself for the benefit of the team. Despite some recent flashes, such as two goals against Leipzig and a final-minute equaliser at Rens, his performance fell short of the expected standards. In particular, he was too cautious in passing and did not take on enough responsibility in the game. He's sluggish, both on the ball and defensively, and his teammates, especially Messi and Mbappe, have publicly expressed frustration.
Wijnaldum is an important figure for Liverpool, he was one of the 4 captains before Klopp left, but he found that Greater Paris was more inclined to clique and he had not yet felt the love of his supporters. Maybe that's a lesson, given the interviews he gave after leaving Anfield. He complained that he didn't always feel loved and appreciated by Liverpool fans, especially those who vented their anger on social media.
Although he was greeted by 10,000 Reds fans in his final 1 game in May against Crystal Palace, of course, Klopp and his teammates know his worth. He left with a lot of tears in his eyes and he wanted to stay at Liverpool but he felt the club didn't value him. On paper, at least, Greater Paris is an ideal choice, certainly better than Barca, who was expected to go to Barca.
Wijnaldum is selfless, he is the ideal player to help Pochettino balance the team, he offers reliable as well as top-notch experience. Of course, he can still do it now. Greater Paris will win Ligue 1 and, of course, the ability to win the Champions League. He may still play a role, even if he won't be as indispensable as he was in Merseyside. His experience, as well as Coutinho's experience, should serve as a warning that, in any case, the stakes are high for those considering leaving Liverpool. After leaving Anfield, the player's end may be a rapid decline in his career.