Liverpool

Georginio Wijnaldum: 'Roberto Firmino contract extension a good sign'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 01 May 2018

Georginio Wijnaldum talks up the importance of Roberto Firmino to Liverpool and admits that the Brazilian's contract extension "is a good sign" for the club.

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has admitted that the contract extension signed by teammate Roberto Firmino "is a good sign" for the club.

The Brazil international committed his future to the Reds on the weekend with a deal that is due to run through until 2023, which boss Jurgen Klopp hopes will persuade others to put pen to paper.

Wijnaldum is happy to see key names being tied down for the long term, providing a boost ahead of the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Roma this week, and the Dutchman is particularly pleased to see Firmino stay on at Anfield.

"Bobby is a really important player for us," he told the club's official website. "It's a good sign from the club, that we want to keep players together, and also a good sign from him; he wants to stay at Liverpool, he wants to build something with Liverpool.

"He has something extra. He scores goals but he is like an extra defender - he is always making it difficult for players when they have the ball. They never see him coming. He takes the ball from behind.

"When you play against him you always have to be aware that he can be somewhere, you never know where he is. That doesn't give you a comfortable feeling when you have the ball. And that's a good thing for us."

Wijnaldum and Firmino are in contention to play a part at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday evening, with Liverpool boasting a 5-2 advantage from the first leg.