World Cup winner spotted at AXA Training Centre

Liverpool welcomed a World Cup-winning midfielder to their training complex this week.

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Of course, in a sense the Reds frequently welcome a World Cup winner to the AXA Training Centre - their very own Alexis Mac Allister, but this week they rolled out the red carpet for another star who visited the club's training facilities for a special reason.

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In the past Liverpool have celebrated the likes of Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina or Roger Hunt.

But surprisingly, for a club of this stature there have not been as many World Cup winners to have represented Liverpool as you'd think.

For some reason, Liverpool's stars do their business at club level rather than international level which is what we like to see.

Interestingly, this week though the club did welcome a former World Cup winner for a special occasion.

Why ex-Arsenal star visited the AXA training centre

Former Arsenal and Brazil man Gilberto Silva was spotted at the AXA training centre by the Daily Mail. Their report claims he was there on a special visit to carry out some work for ESPN, where he now works as a pundit.

Forever associated in England with his time at Arsenal, Gilberto was famously a part of the much-storied invincible season in 2003-04 and also was a twice winner of the FA Cup with the North London club who currently pose the greatest threat to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.

He remains an Arsenal and FIFA ambassador, and at international level was a breakout star at the 2002 World Cup, which Brazil won at the tournament in Japan and South Korea.

Since hanging up his boots, Gilberto has become a highly respected pundit and commentator for the broadcaster, and he was part of a detail which toured the training ground and conducted an interview with head coach Arne Slot.

Interestingly, according to the report, Gilberto will also be visiting Wolverhampton to film a feature with fellow Brazilian Matheus Cunha, fresh from his spectacular strike against the Reds on Sunday.

Heavily linked with a move a Anfield this summer, it’ll be interesting to see if that gets raised with Gilberto having filmed these two pieces in such a close timeframe and on the same trip.

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Away from football, Gilberto is a keen musician, having played guitar and mandolin on trips away with the Brazil national team as a player. He also had a giant anteater named after him at London Zoo during his time at Arsenal.

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