- The defender left Liverpool again in Might, on the finish of the 2023-24 marketing campaign
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A former Liverpool defender is reportedly contemplating retirement on the age of 33.
Joel Matip has been a free agent since leaving Anfield in the summertime and is now on the verge of hanging up his boots, based on a report from Germany.
Fabrizio Romano shared the information on X on Friday, crediting Ruhr Nachrichten for the news.
Matip, who joined the Reds from German facet Schalke in 2016, left the membership after spending eight years in Merseyside, again in Might.
He has remained a free agent over the summer time, regardless of his spectacular profession up to now, whereas being linked with a return to Schalke in addition to a transfer to Hamburger.
Joel Matip (4th from proper) is reportedly contemplating a shock retirement from soccer
Matip was a constant characteristic in Jurgen Klopp’s facet for eight years and departed with a powerful trophy haul.
He is gained seven trophies with the Reds together with a Premier League title, a Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Maybe his largest second for Liverpool got here of their Champions League ultimate victory over Spurs in 2019, the place he assisted Divock Origi for his or her second aim.
The membership confirmed the information in an announcement on their web site again in Might, because the defender bid farewell with an emotional message.
Paying tribute to Matip after he left Liverpool, Klopp stated: ‘In all of the years that I’ve been concerned in soccer, I’m not positive I’ve come throughout too many gamers who’re extra beloved than Joel Matip. I am not even positive it will be attainable to say something unhealthy about him.
‘An exquisite skilled, an exquisite footballer and an exquisite human being – we now have been blessed to have him with us for so long as we now have and now all we are able to do is want him properly as he heads off in a brand new path.
Matip spent eight seasons below Jurgen Klopp and has been a free agent since leaving Anfield
‘Joel’s qualities as a participant are there for all to see and as a membership, we now have benefited from them for the reason that first second that he joined. I do not suppose he has had too many headlines through the years however he has solely ever been a really well-known determine inside our group.
‘I’ve stated earlier than that if there was one one who would not care if he was underrated it will be Joel, however the fact is we couldn’t have rated him extra extremely. Not solely has he set the requirements for himself, he has set them for others and this is among the foremost explanation why his time right here has been so profitable.’
