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Earlier on Friday, Liverpool announced the signing of Wataru Endo, who will bring much needed help in the heart of Jürgen Klopp’s squad.

Since then, VfB Stuttgart’s new captain, Waldemar Anton, sat down with Sport Bild to talk about the new season, where he also addressed his ex-teammate’s decision to leave.

The Reds have been after a player like him for some time, and while he was never their first pick, seeing both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia go to Chelsea meant they had to go further down their list of targets.

Liverpool eventually settled on the Japan international and wasted no time to transfer him from VfB Stuttgart to Anfield.

It all happened very quickly, with an initial €20m or so being paid to the Bundesliga club, where some of the players are still a bit stunned at everything that has taken place.

Waldemar Anton said when asked Endo’s transfer to Liverpool: “Of course, we would all have preferred it if Water had stayed because he is simply great in terms of sport and personality, but he’s not going just anywhere. He’s going to Liverpool, one of the best clubs in the world. We understand he wanted to seize this opportunity and we wish him the best.”