In the summer of 2023, Liverpool pursued young defensive midfielders Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, but both players decided to go to Chelsea.
Although they missed out on their target, they moved quickly after that, signing Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo, who was at Stuttgart at the time.
The 32-year-old midfielder struggled in the early stages of his first Premier League season, but from around December 2023 he became a regular in the starting line-up and showed his ability mainly in the ball-winning department. However, the appointment of manager Arne Slot cast a cloud over him.
The Dutch head coach, who places great importance on Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, is cautious about using the national team captain.
Although he often throws him in towards the end of games, he is given very few chances to start.
In an interview, Endo’s three-year-old brother, Satoru, said he is proud of his older brother and that he feels a joy that words cannot express when he sees him playing at Anfield.
“It has been some time since my brother started playing for Liverpool and became captain of the Japanese national team so it has become the norm for me today,”
“But being captain of the national team is not something that everyone can become and playing with Liverpool as well. So, yes, I am so proud of him.”
“Last year I went to Anfield to watch the Premier League and also I went to Germany as well when he was with Stuttgart,”
“It was very amazing for me to see my brother playing in such a big club and incredible atmosphere. I can’t describe exactly that moment in words.”