Player who ‘developed’ well at Liverpool joined another club for more money

After failing to sign Emre Can from Liverpool last year, Juventus secured the midfielder’s services on a free transfer in the summer.

The Merseyside club tried to persuade the German international to sign an extension at Anfield, which was rejected by the 24-year-old, and in June he completed a switch to the Turin club and signed a four-year deal with Massimo Allegri’s side.

Former Bayern Munich defender Jurgen Kohler suggested it was the right decision for his compatriot to make a switch to Italy, but he also said that wanting to earn more was the reason for the player leaving the Premier League club and join the Serie A winners.

“Sporting wise, yes [logical step to join Juventus]. The new situation is very interesting for him, although he played good games and developed well at Liverpool. He will earn more in Turin than in the Reds, which of course was a reason for the change,” Kohler told German publication Sport1.

“All players who say otherwise do not tell the truth. In 1991, I also left Bayern [for Juventus] because I could earn more money.”

The former Bayer Leverkusen man received a signing-on fee of €16m, which will be paid to him over the next two financial years. According to Gazzetta dello Sport via the Mirror, Can will earn €5m-a-year at the Allainz Stadium.