Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has admitted he feels relieved after revealing he will be leaving the club this summer. It was announced on Thursday night that the Scotland international will bid farewell to the Reds at the end of the season after nine trophy-filled years on Merseyside. And the 32-year-old said he kept the news a secret for the past two months.
But the full-back, who joined from then-relegated Hull City for £8m, insists he will never consider himself an Anfield legend, despite winning every conceivable major trophy with the club. He told Liverpool’s official website: “I think I’ve felt better since we’ve been open. Certainly the hardest thing over the last few weeks and months is that some of the people close to me at the training ground don’t know. And more importantly, the fans.”
“The closer we get to the game, the more and more questions I get asked. I’ve always said the fans are the most important people at this club and I think it’s time to tell them what’s going on and obviously this year is going to be my last.”
“I just think it’s better to go out, because from now until the end of the season I can fully focus on the team. I think it’s important to do that, and I’ve always done that.”
“But it will be near the end when it’s time to say an emotional farewell and tell the fans and everyone associated with this club what it means to me. I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. I’m just trying to get it out there so I can be open and honest with everyone.”
The Scotland captain added: “I’ll let others say whether I’m a Liverpool legend or not. I’d never accept that because I think you know me well enough. But from the moment I joined this football club I wanted to succeed.
“I wanted to bring a trophy home to this football club and help get us back to where this football club belongs. I’m so proud to have been part of a great team that did that. The club means everything to me. The people within the club mean the world to me.”
“The fans have always been so kind to me. I always remember my debut against Crystal Palace, when I wasn’t any of my relatives, obviously signed from Hull City for just £8 million. When I played on my debut, the Kop was already singing my name. It was an absolutely incredible moment.”
“Then for the next three months I didn’t appear again and I reminded Jurgen[Klopp]of that often. “When I got the chance, it kept me going during that period and when I got the chance, I just wanted to make the people of this club and the supporters proud of the left-back who was performing week in and week out.
“They’ve been great to me, they’ve been unbelievable. They’ve always supported me and always been so positive about me. I couldn’t have asked for a better fan base. I couldn’t have asked for better people to push me forward inside the practice field. I’ll look back on those nine years with a big smile on my face. I can get emotional sometimes.”
“Now is not the time, and it will be difficult to say goodbye to everyone. But it is also the time to do so, and to celebrate the nine years we have all spent together.”
