Vinicius Jr told Real Madrid to SIGN player leaving Liverpool - journalist

One journalist out of Brazil suggests Vinicius Jr was eager to sign a player leaving Liverpool last summer.  

UOL journalist Julio Gomes Filho claims Vinicius Jr pushed for Real Madrid to sign Roberto Firmino last summer. The forward was leaving Liverpool on a free transfer and able to move where he wanted.

And Real were actually all for it - only for one hang-up to end the plans.

"Someone from within Madrid told me last summer, Vinicius asked the club to sign Bobby Firmino from Liverpool, actually from his, from his free agency," Filho told the Transfers Podcast. "And the club understood it would be a good move.

"Eventually didn't sign him. Because they were kind at their limits of Brazilians - they didn't want one more because then it could become a gang."

Real Madrid wanted Roberto Firmino

It shouldn't be a surprise. Well, maybe the reasoning for not doing the deal is but we're more surprised that there wasn't more interest in Firmino.

The forward left Anfield on a free transfer despite enjoying a fantastic campaign. Liverpool struggled as a team but Firmino still bagged 11 goals and four assists in the Premier League - despite not playing all that regularly.

Only Erling Haaland and Callum Wilson averaged more goals per 90 minutes than Firmino in 2022/23. Only Haaland averaged more goals and assists.

Despite that, Liverpool let him walk for nothing and it feels natural that a national teammate tried to get him to his club. Vinicius, after all, is a fantastic fit alongside Firmino - and Real Madrid lacked a natural centre-forward.

Now, Real won't be sitting around thinking they missed out after winning La Liga and reaching the UEFA Champions League final yet again. But it is a sign of the respect fellow professionals have for Firmino - and that perhaps other clubs should have recognised that before his move to Saudi Arabia.