Lucas Leiva admits he wasn't happy at Liverpool but his family are fans now

Former Liverpool star Lucas Leiva
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David Lynch11 May 2020

Lucas Leiva has insisted he has no regrets over the timing of his Liverpool departure, revealing that he was 'not happy' during his final season with the club.

The Brazilian brought an end to a 10-year stay on Merseyside in the summer of 2017 as he agreed a move to Italian giants Lazio, for whom he has since made over 100 appearances.

The Reds have gone from strength to strength in his absence, Jurgen Klopp overseeing a transformation that has resulted in Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup glory, with a Premier League title also surely on the way.

But Lucas is not casting envious glances at his former club from Rome, and still believes he was right to move on at the end of a campaign that saw him struggle for starts.

“The year after I left, we lost in the [Champions League] final. I met the boys here in Rome [for the 2018 semi-final]. But, of course, [to win it] I was really happy, to be honest,” he told LFCTV.

“My son, my family, we are Liverpool fans now.

“It’s a great achievement and I’m just really happy because so many people there I am still in touch with and still care a lot about.

“Of course, you always think, ‘Had I waited one more year…’ but, to be honest, I wasn’t happy. When you are not happy it makes no sense so, to be honest, it’s better I see Liverpool winning and I’m happy as well playing.

“As a fan I’m really happy. Of course, I would like to have won it but I won it as a fan, let’s say.”

Despite find his playing time limited during his last two seasons at Anfield, Lucas still managed to strike up a strong relationship with Klopp that endures to this day.

“I learned a lot with him, a lot,” he explained..

“I played centre-back; I wouldn’t say I wasn’t happy but it’s not my position, but I learned when you work hard you have to be patient, something that my career at Liverpool was always like this – patience, keep proving, keep going and don’t give up.

“With Jürgen it was always the same. He treated me with respect, and especially when it was the time for me to move on and he was really good. He gave me confidence and the freedom to choose to move to Italy.

“We are still in touch. We send messages. I learned a lot and he’s a guy that is very open, very honest and that’s really important as well.”

Over the course of the last three seasons, Lucas has helped Lazio clinch the Coppa Italia and the Suppercoppa Italiana on two occasions.

Those successes and the warmer continental climate have left the 33-year-old in doubt that he made the right move in opting for a switch to Serie A.

“It was a new challenge for me,” he continued. “A club that received me with open arms and I had a lot of responsibility when I arrived, coming from Liverpool and bringing the experience.

“Since I arrived we won three titles, we are now second in the league and it has been fantastic, to be honest. The family has settled really well, the weather is fantastic so it’s been all positive since the day I arrived so I’m really happy.

“Like I said, I wanted to play and show my value again in a new challenge and I’ve been able to do that, so that’s really important as well.”

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