Wijnaldum may regret leaving Liverpool – Babel

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 17 May 2021 21:00 BST
• 2 min read

Gini Wijnaldum may regret leaving Liverpool if he departs on a free transfer at the end of the season, according to Ryan Babel.

Wijnaldum has been a key player at Anfield since arriving at the club in 2016 from Newcastle, but his contract is due to expire this summer.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his desire for Wijnaldum to stay but the 30-year-old has still not penned a new deal.

And now the Dutchman has been encouraged to stay by former Liverpool winger Babel, who was at the club from 2007 until 2011.

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“I spent almost four years at ­Liverpool under Rafa Benitez and Kenny Dalglish,” said Babel.

“When I left to go and play in Germany, where TSG ­Hoffenheim had become a big force, it was to become the ­biggest regret of my career.

“The only reason I left was because I wanted to have more playing minutes to keep my place in the Holland team.

“But you don’t realise how dominating the playing style is at Liverpool until you play in a different team and league.

“I was brought up with really attacking football at Ajax. In the academy, you learn to play that way. When I moved to ­Liverpool, it was exactly the same. It is in the DNA of the club to play attacking football.”

Wijnaldum is a target of Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, while he has also been linked recently with Inter.