Roberto Firmino has explained how he and Jurgen Klopp 'clicked' immediately when they first met in person and how he once copied a Ronaldo haircut ahead of the World Cup final.
Firmino joined Liverpool from German side Hoffenheim in 2015 for a fee of £29m. After a period of adjustment to the Premier League, he has become a fans' favourite at Anfield.
Scoring and making goals under Jurgen Klopp, the Brazilian has been a key part of Liverpool's attack alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. During his time with the Reds, Firmino has won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the Premier League.
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“That’s difficult! I remember we exchanged messages and in person it was when he arrived here at Liverpool,” Firmino replied when asked about the first time he met Klopp.
“I told him how happy I was that he’d come here and here I am today, very happy alongside him. His arrival here changed everything. We really clicked and got on great immediately. I knew him already from playing against him in Germany. I knew him, he knew me. I grew and developed a lot here thanks to him.”
Firmino has scored 96 goals in 318 appearances for the Reds and is well-known for his unique celebrations. Whether he's Kung-Fu fighting, forming a dance triumvirate or simply savouring some machine-gun funk, it's fair to say the forward knows how to celebrate a goal.
“Here at Liverpool ever since my first goal I have done goal celebrations,” he told the latest edition of the official Liverpool FC magazine when asked about his celebrations.
“I had goal celebrations in Brazil too. I can’t remember exactly what my first goal celebration for Figueirense was, but I did a little dance.”
Firmino has won 55 international caps for his country, and still regularly features for Tite’s side. He is also expected to be part of the squad that heads to this year’s World Cup.
And when reflecting on memories of previous World Cups, Firmino has recalled how he got his haircut the same as Ronaldo ahead of the 2002 final between Brazil and Germany.
“I remember Brazil losing to France in the 1998 World Cup, I cried a lot. It was really sad. The 2002 World Cup came straight after, I really experienced that one,” the Reds forward recalled.
“I would wake up in the early hours to watch the games and Brazil won their fifth World Cup. It was a really memorable World Cup, I remember it as if it were yesterday: waking up in the early hours and cheering the Brazil team on. For the final I had my haircut just like Ronaldo. I remember it as if it were yesterday, it had a big influence upon me.”
