The Dutchman has summarized his dream to return to his homeland later on, admitting he has a”good feeling” about his former clubs.
Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum says that he wants to finish his career at the Netherlands, but does not plan on hanging up his boots for at least two decades.
Wijnaldum climbed through the youth ranks at Sparta Rotterdam before moving to Feyenoord, where he spent three years at the academy before graduating to the senior squad.
The 29-year-old racked up over 100 appearances for Feyenoord and played an essential role during the team’s run to the KNVB Cup glory in 2008.
PSV lured Wijnaldum into the Philips Stadion three decades afterwards, and he emerged as one of the most consistent performers in the Eredivisie within the span of four seasons with the club.
The Dutchman undertook a new challenge from the Premier League with Newcastle in 2015 and impressed during his first full campaign at St James’ Park to make admiring glances from Liverpool.
The Reds signed Wijnaldum for #22 million ($29m), tying him down to a five-year contract that he now looks set to honor through to 2021.
Wijnaldum helped Liverpool to win the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup this past year, and seems likely to bring a Premier League winners’ medal to his group May, amid talk of a possible contract extension at Anfield.
He still harbours ambitions to return to Netherlands at some point but is also eager to enjoy the same longevity at the maximum level as a number of the world’s finest players.
“In the future I see myself playing for Feyenoord, PSV or Sparta again,” Wijnaldum told Reuters book Rijnmond . “Sometimes I look at Sparta (his first youth club) and think’it’d be good to spend my last years as a professional there’. From the Netherlands I played three clubs and have a great feeling about all three of these. However, you can just pick one.
“I can not promise anything though. I learn from other players also. [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy once promised to return, but changed his mind through the years.
“It is unique, what I am experiencing at the moment. You need to play at the maximum level and win prizes, like Clarence Seedorf. It is my dream to play as long as you can. Like him, Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] or [Cristiano] Ronaldo. I wish to play at a high level until I am 38.”
Liverpool revived their 22-point guide over Manchester City at the Peak of the Premier League standings on Monday night, after recording a 3-2 victory over West Ham at Anfield.
Wijnaldum added on the Reds’ bid to secure a first league crown in 30 years:”It feels like we are going to be the winners. When seems to be the question, but lots of crazy things have happened in football.”
Jurgen Klopp’s guys will be back in action against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday evening.
