Wataru Endo says he didn’t think his move to Liverpool would materialise as the club pursued a record transfer for Moises Caicedo – but admitted signing for the Reds was something he had waited for his whole life.
The Japan international moved to Anfield last August, just days after Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo had snubbed interest from Liverpool to sign for Chelsea in a British record £115m deal.
The Reds paid £16m to Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart to sign Endo, who was the captain and made 133 appearances at the club after signing from Belgium side Sint-Truiden in 2018.
However, the 31-year-old has revealed he always harboured hopes of playing in the Premier League but feared the chance would never come, especially in the wake of Liverpool’s pursuit of Caicedo.
“If I were to get a chance [of playing in the Premier League], I had a feeling I would be heading to Liverpool because they had many outbound players. Both midfielders [Jordan Henderson and Fabinho] left,” Endo told Japanese television.
“I thought Moises Caicedo would sign. I remember seeing in the news that a deal was close. I thought that I would lose out, and then he went to Chelsea.”
Explaining Liverpool’s decision to target him after a move for Caicedo failed, Endo said: “In terms of the fee, it was a fraction of the price. I hear that’s what they say in the media.
“A player like me, I would only get an opportunity in a situation like this. The ideal situation would be to get a hold of young talented players.
“But not every club can sign their ideal target. So plan B would be to sign an older, experienced player, someone who can be immediately effective. Liverpool were looking for that in signing me.
“It feels like I’ve been waiting for this chance my whole life.”