Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell has admitted Takumi Minamino needs more time to adapt to life at the club after struggling for form following his move from Liverpool.
The 27-year-old made the £17million switch to Monaco in the summer, ending his two-and-a-half-year stay at the Reds after he joined from RB Salzburg in January 2020. During his time at Anfield, Minamino scored some important goals including the equaliser in the Carabao Cup quarter-final last season.
However, the Japan international decided to pursue a new adventure and chose to sign for Monaco despite reported interest from a number of Premier League clubs. It hasn't gone to plan for Minamino at the Ligue 1 outfit so far, with the midfielder scoring just once in seven appearances in all competitions.
Mitchell, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, has opened up on how tough it has been for Minamino to settle into life at Monaco. He also revealed that Minamino will come good as time progresses but has lauded his abilities as a player, having impressed at Salzburg before his move to Liverpool.
"Takumi Minamino is [the signing] that has had the most difficulty integrating for the time being. We have to be patient. I hope that his goal against Reims will lead to many more," he told Nice-Matin.
He continued, admitting his poor form has been something of a mystery: "It’s paradoxical because he’s the oldest player on the list (of arrivals). He needs a bit more time to adapt to the tactical expectations, the physicality of Ligue 1, and our style of play.
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"He needs to acclimatise physically and mentally. He needs rhythm. We know he’s a good player. He shone at Salzburg, has huge Champions League experience, come from Liverpool where he scored important goals and Jürgen Klopp has always spoken highly of him.
"We’re working to give him back that relaxation that is currently lacking from his game. He is 27 years old and is reaching the peak of his career. There is no doubt as to his abilities."
Minamino isn't the only ex-Liverpool player struggling for form at the start of the season. Divock Origi, who joined AC Milan on a free transfer in the summer, has failed to live up to expectations following his switch to the San Siro.
The Belgium international has made just four appearances and is yet to score his first goal. Origi was used as a second-half substitute in all of those matches and is yet to be included in manager Stefano Pioli's starting line-up, although he has missed the last three games through injury.
Italian journalist Alvise Cagnazzo has labelled Origi as the 'worst signing of the season' in Serie A in a report in the Daily Mail, and he doesn't hold back with his verdict on the former Liverpool striker.
"There is no doubt who the worst signing of the season has been in Serie A: Divock Origi," Cagnazzo's report read. "The Belgian left Liverpool hoping to finally nail down a starting spot at a top club, but his time at AC Milan has so far been a disaster.
"Rather than catching the eye, the striker's first months in Italy have been plagued by bad luck and injuries, which limited his opportunities on Merseyside until his contract expired. At 27 years old, any player, especially a striker, should be at their peak. But Origi seems to already be on a downward curve in his career."
