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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp opens up on Mane welcome to Takumi Minamino after transfer
Takumi Minamino joined Liverpool in December from Red Bull Salzburg.
Liverpool: Klopp says Minamino was ‘welcomed with open arms’
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits he was thrilled with the reception Takumi Minamino received from his new team-mates on his first day as a Red. Minamino signed for the Merseysiders in December from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.
The Japan international officially became a Liverpool player on New Year’s Day following the opening of the January transfer window.
Minamino, however, took a tour of Liverpool’s Melwood training ground on New Year’s Eve, where he was warmly welcomed by Sadio Mane and Naby Keita - both of whom played for the 24-year-old’s former side.
Mane and Keita’s warm welcomes for Minamino thrilled Klopp, who is hoping his new forward takes to his new surroundings as soon as possible.
“From the next moment on, we are thinking about bringing him into the squad. Yesterday he was here, we had a very light session and he enjoyed it a lot,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website.
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The boys were incredible with him – Sadio [Mane], Naby [Keita] with the Salzburg genetic or DNA whatever
“The boys were incredible with him – Sadio [Mane], Naby [Keita] with the Salzburg genetic or DNA whatever. It was really nice.
“If I would like to be a new player, I would like to be a new player in that group because they welcome you with open arms.
“That’s really nice, I think he felt that. I’m not sure if [it] was a surprise, but he felt it.
“Communication-wise is really good, so his English is absolutely OK but the German is really good – it doesn’t help the team much but me!
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“We can talk, we didn’t do it yesterday too much, just a little bit because it’s now important that he really settles.
“We signed the player he was at Salzburg, so that means he doesn’t have to change in the moment, just be who you are.
"Then we start working on that, that’s how it is. I’m looking forward to it.”
Klopp expects Minamino to hit the ground running but has called on Reds fans to be patient with their new player.
"It's important he settles and that we've signed the player he was at Salzburg, so at the moment he just has to be who he is," Klopp said.
"I told him we signed Minamino from Salzburg - the guy who played like crazy against us - be like that and we will see how it develops.
"But certainly at this part of the season we will use him now and not in 15 weeks' time.
"Will he be the finished article in March though? I don't know. We'll start learning about each other from now, work on his natural skills and give him all the time he needs.
"At the moment we have a really good football team and we have some of the best offensive players in the world.
"We didn't bring him in to accept he is fifth, sixth-choice but he can play many positions which means options. It would be nice if everyone gives him a bit of time though."
Despite officially becoming a Red on January 1, Minamino wasn’t eligible to make his debut in the European Champion’s clash with Sheffield United on Thursday night.
He will, however, be available for selection on Sunday when Liverpool welcome their bitter rivals Everton to Anfield for their FA Cup third round tie.