Desire to Depart Liverpool Sparked by Training with Mo Salah: Former Forward’s Revelation

Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi’s decision to leave Liverpool was shaped by his experiences training alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Awoniyi, who missed his recent opportunity to face his former club at Anfield due to a groin injury, had a strong start to the season, scoring in his first three matches and providing consecutive assists. This streak was a continuation of his impressive run at the end of the previous season, during which he netted six goals and contributed an assist in Forest’s final six games.

Reflecting on his time at Liverpool, where he failed to make a single appearance over six years due to work permit issues, Awoniyi revealed that training with renowned talents like Salah and Mane was an eye-opening experience that influenced his decision to leave the club.

“The training sessions, wow! I knew that this is the kind of training that you win something from!” Awoniyi shared with Liverpoolfc.com. “You don’t train like that and then at the end of the season you get nothing.”

He continued, “For me as a player, that was the kind of environment I had always wanted. But in life sometimes you have to make tough decisions, and I knew for me that I needed to go and play every week. You look at the time, there was Salah, Mane, Firmino, and others. I knew the chances (to play) were very, very slim. I knew I needed to get to a place where I was playing every week. It was hard (to leave), but it was a decision I had to make.”

Despite parting ways with Liverpool, Awoniyi expressed his gratitude for the role the club played in his development, acknowledging it as a pivotal stage in his career.

He said, “For me, going through all those clubs and all those stages, it was all with the aim of one day being back in the Premier League. I think in the end it was worth it, but I can say it was a tough journey.”

Awoniyi praised Liverpool as a “family club” that not only nurtured him as a footballer but also as a person. He emphasized the importance of the club’s support during his time away and expressed enduring gratitude for the positive impact it had on his growth, both on and off the field.