'I am very happy': 23-year-old suggests he's pleased he didn't end up signing for Liverpool now

 

Torino defender Perr Schuurs has suggested that he’s ‘very happy’ with his decision not to join Liverpool last summer.

The 23-year-old was reportedly in Liverpool’s crosshairs, with his agent even admitting to an approach from the Reds. But, having decided to leave Ajax, Schuurs chose to join Torino instead. Now, speaking to Dutch outlet Voetbal International back in his homeland, the centre-back says he made the right call.

“I now dare to say that I am very happy with my choice. And I already feel very at home here. I had four fantastic years at Ajax. But I am 23-years-old and want to play every week. In the end it was very simple; if Jurrien [Timber] stayed, it would be better to leave,” he said.

“I did have good conversations with Alfred [Schreuder, Ajax coach]. He really wanted to keep up with me and promised a lot of minutes. I definitely need you, he said.

“Top clubs were also interested, I will not deny that. But, as I said, I wanted to play as much as possible. Otherwise, I would have stayed with Ajax. Originally the idea was to go from the Netherlands to Germany one day. The Bundesliga is great and I speak the language.

“But the story of Torino was the deciding factor. They see a chance for me to become an even more complete defender and, one day, take the step to the absolute top.”

Schuurs still one to watch for the future

In hindsight, it’s hard to argue too much with Schuurs’ decision. He wouldn’t have been a starter for Liverpool right now, and has had a good time of it in Turin.

As he says, those ‘top clubs’ won’t have lost interest in him over the course of six months and a move could still happen in the future.

With that in mind, Liverpool have actually recently been reported as still monitoring the Netherlands U21 star. The Reds could soon be on the lookout for replacements for both Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk. With both players turning thirty-two next summer, that search could ramp up at the end of the season.

Having been on their shortlist before, Liverpool will be well aware of what Schuurs can do. Although the player himself seems to favour a move to Germany, there’s surely no way he’d reject a Premier League transfer twice?

Either way, it was perhaps a smart move from Schuurs to make a slightly downwards step last summer.

Now, he’s able to show himself week-in-week-out in one of Europe’s top five leagues. Good performances in Serie A will open the door to a higher level of club in the future. Maybe that will finally be at Liverpool. We shall see.