Cristiano Ronaldo cited as Liverpool star agrees ‘big money’ deal – pundit
Jurgen Klopp will be “delighted” Arthur Melo has hired a fitness coach, nutritionist and physiotherapist to help him get up to speed for Liverpool, according to Frank McAvennie.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Celtic, West Ham and Scotland claimed Cristiano Ronaldo was the first player to hire external staff to help them perform on the pitch.
Arthur moved to Liverpool from Juventus on loan in the summer but has only played 13 minutes of senior football for his new side.
The Times reported last week (21 September) that the 26-year-old has hired his own personal fitness team to ensure he is ready to compete regularly for the Reds.
“That’s what manager’s want,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Charlotte Cohen.
“Ronaldo was the first to have all of that staying with him. He had a nutritionist, a chef, health coach and a sports scientist. He had them all when nobody had heard of it.
“Rio Ferdinand said he asked why he was doing all that and he said ‘I want to be the best in the world’.
“It’s kicked on, the game’s moved on and evolved. Now people are taking it seriously.
“For me, it’s just giving people jobs but it’s working for these boys. They’ve got someone in their head, telling them all the time ‘Eat this, eat that, it’ll give you the energy to last 90 minutes.’ You’re going to do it.
“It’s a big money game now. For everyone gets involved, sports scientists and all that, it’s big money.
“I think Klopp will be happy. He will have spoken to the club with it, I don’t see a problem. He’ll be delighted with the boy and that he’s done that.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed it is “drinks all round” in the Liverpool boardroom amid news from Premier League HQ.