2 weeks ago
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Lucas Leiva has praised the role Wataru Endo has played in Liverpool's recent success.
Endo, who recently delivered a fresh hint on his Liverpool future, made a surprise move to Merseyside two years ago after the Reds agreed to a £16 million ($21.5 million) deal with German side Stuttgart. Not much was expected of the midfielder, who was already in his 30s and had never played for one of Europe's top clubs.
Yet Endo has proven to be a bargain for Liverpool. The 32-year-old was a regular under Jurgen Klopp during the 2023-24 campaign, making 44 appearances in all competitions to help the team secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and Carabao Cup glory.
Endo played more of a supporting role under Arne Slot last season, making many of his 32 appearances in all competitions from the bench. But he always performed when called up, even featuring at center-back when the Reds were short in defence.
Endo's willingness to take a back seat last term helped Liverpool clinch the Premier League title, and he's expected to stay at Anfield this summer.
Lucas, who spent a decade playing holding midfield for Liverpool, appreciates the role Endo plays in Slot's roster. "I think Endo has played a big part for two seasons," Lucas told This Is Anfield. "Last year, of course, he played less.
"I’m not inside the team and I don’t know, but I’m sure what a professional he is and his mentality has shown that he deserves all the success. Of course, last year he got less game time, but you could see that when he came on, he always played a big role."
Liverpool turned to Endo on the eve of the 2023-24 season after Moises Caicedo rejected the Reds to join Chelsea for a British record transfer fee. The experienced star had previously played for clubs in Japan and Belgium before joining Stuttgart in 2019.
Endo helped Stuttgart achieve promotion to the Bundesliga during his first season in Germany before ensuring the team stayed up over the next three years.
Considering Stuttgart narrowly avoided relegation in 2023 by winning a playoff against Hamburg, it's fair to assume no big clubs were looking at signing Endo.
But Liverpool's sporting director at the time, Jorg Schmadtke, had an encyclopedic knowledge of the German league and knew the Japanese star would be the perfect fit for the Reds.
Lucas is thankful his former club swooped for Endo. He added: "He (Endo) is what good teams are about.
"You know, it is not just the ones that play every game, play every minute, but the ones that maybe play less but play a big role.
"I really enjoy watching him play because he is a great player. He is (in the) national team from Japan and a fantastic guy, I’m sure of that."
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