Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Liverpool, Premier League, AS Monaco, Takumi Minamino
Ryan Smart
The transfer of Takumi Minamino from Liverpool to Monaco has been branded as a 'marketing stunt' by a French outlet.
Minamino joined the Reds from Austrian giants RB Salzburg in January 2020, after the club decided to trigger his £7.25 million release clause.
The Japan international had starred for Salzburg in the Champions League against Liverpool earlier that season, which helped to convince Jurgen Klopp to bring him to Anfield.
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However, despite winning the Premier League title in his first season, the winger largely struggled to impress during his time at Liverpool. He did, however, score 10 goals in 24 games in all competitions in the 2021/22 campaign, including four goals during the Reds' successful pursuit of the Carabao Cup.
Klopp elected to allow the 28-year-old to depart Anfield last summer, and he joined Monaco on a permanent deal.
Minamino has made 11 Ligue 1 appearances for Philippe Clement's side, scoring one goal and providing three assists. However, he has featured on the bench regularly in recent weeks, although did play 84 minutes in Sunday's 2-0 win over Clermont.
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And the winger has now received criticism from one element of the French press.
L'Equipe (as per Sport Witness) decided to give out some scathing criticism towards Minamino, after he was selected as a second striker in the 2-0 victory over Clermont.
They implied that the Japan international's signing was a 'marketing stunt', and also suggested that the move was designed to 'break into the market' in Asia.
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This, however, was countered by a glowing assessment of the player's performance on Sunday by the Monaco Tribune. They described Minamino as being able to 'wreak havoc' in a different role, and praised his 'intelligence and knowledge' in making forward runs.
Monaco boss Clement recently spoke about the player's absence from the first team, and said he was impressing in training: "It's simple, there are only eleven places in the team. 'Taki' has been doing great in training for a while, he was ready.
"I give a chance to the players who are ready, but unfortunately I can't give gifts to all those who work well in training."