New Liverpool signing Kostas Tsimikas 'a real winner', says Pedro Chirivella
Kostas Tsimikas has been backed to shine at Liverpool by a former team-mate who knows exactly what will be expected of him from Jurgen Klopp.
Pedro Chirivella, who ended a seven-year stay at Anfield in order to join Nantes this summer, played alongside the Reds' latest signing when both spent the 2017-18 campaign on loan at Dutch outfit Willem II.
It was there that Tsimikas first caught the eye of the Premier League champions' recruitment staff, ensuring they continued to keep tabs on his progress until Monday's £11.75m transfer was completed.
For Chirivella, news of the move was particularly welcome given the close bond he struck up with Tsimikas during their brief stint together.
"We used to hang out a lot after training and it's a friend that I will take for life," the Spaniard told the club's official website. "I'm very happy.
"I texted him yesterday, the first thing I did was congratulate him and his family. I know he was waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time and finally he got it, so I'm very happy."
Having been convinced by Tsimikas' quality just days after first meeting him, Chirivella was not surprised to see his old team-mate secure a move to the reigning English, European and world champions.
"I remember he grew up a lot. That year was crucial for him," he said of the pair's loan spell. "We had similar seasons, we were both on loan from big clubs and we performed very well. It was a very good step for Kostas.
"I know when I was there at Willem II, [people] from Liverpool came to watch Willem II and they were looking at him as well because he was the standout player for the team.
"The first week of training I could see he could get to the top. Very, very talented. He likes to get forward a lot and also he has a special mentality.
"He's a real winner and he doesn't care who is the winger facing him because he's going to be at his best. When you have a mentality like that, it's easier to perform.
"One of the features of his character is that he's a winner, he's got a good mentality and he's a fighter. The harder the game was, the better he performed."
Chirivella believes the 24-year-old is in the perfect place to continue his development, with Klopp's knack for improving players a clear selling point of an Anfield move.
"He's got similar qualities to Robbo – he likes to get forward but he's very good defending one-v-ones," Chirivella continued. "I think he's going to be a great signing for the club.
"He [Klopp] will be very important for Kostas, I think he will learn a lot. He's still young and he still has a lot of things to improve [on], like everyone, so he will be perfectly managed by the gaffer."
Read more
Sturridge wants Premier League move to resolve 'unfinished business'
First pictures: Liverpool unveil £11.75m signing Kostas Tsimikas
Liverpool confirm Kostas Tsimikas signing: Reds seal £11.75m transfer
Liverpool fans the only losers with new Nike kit set for record sales
