Wednesday, 8th October, 2014
Divock Origi insists he would have been happy to have joined Liverpool this summer, rather than spend the season on loan at Lille, but feels such a switch would have been impossible.
Liverpool bought Origi from Lille in the summer, however he quickly returned to France after the Ligue 1 side made a season-long loan part of the agreement.
The Reds would have liked to be able to call upon the Belgium international for this term – and Origi says he would have had no problem with an instant move, even if remaining in France is he feels better for his long-term development.
"[Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers] wanted me from the beginning, but unfortunately he did not succeed", Origi was quoted as saying by Voetbal Primeur.
"It was important that I remained at Lille for a year for my development.
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"It was not my request to stay, but Lille otherwise would not sell me.
"It's not that I do not want to go to Liverpool, I have ambitions.
"But it is an advantage that I am still at Lille for a season, where I can continue to develop and play a lot. That's the positive side of the story", Origi added.
Had Origi moved to Anfield this summer he would have found himself in competition with Rickie Lambert, Daniel Sturridge, Fabio Borini and Mario Balotelli for a spot spearheading the Reds attack.
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