Cody Gakpo has revealed how a teammate convinced him to stay at PSV Eindhoven, paving the way for his eventual move to Liverpool.
In 2022, Gakpo had just finished a standout season with 21 goals and 15 assists, attracting interest from Premier League clubs like Manchester United, Leeds, and Southampton. However, a combination of advice from a teammate and Manchester United’s decision to sign Antony for £86 million led him to put his faith in staying at PSV.
Speaking to The Players’ Tribune, Gakpo explained: “In 2020, my game really took off under Roger Schmidt, and by 2022, there were rumors of a move to England. I’m guided by faith, so I met with my pastor, who introduced me to another pastor. This pastor told me, ‘God says you’ll go to Liverpool.’ I laughed it off because there was interest from Manchester United and thought, ‘We’ll see.’
“Then United signed Antony, and I had to decide between Leeds, Southampton, or staying at PSV. I prayed for guidance and came up with a plan: If I scored once, I’d join Southampton. Twice, I’d go to Leeds. Three times, I’d stay.”
Gakpo continued: “In our next game, I scored twice and was involved in a third goal, initially called an own goal. On the bench, I told my teammate Jordan Teze the story, and he said, ‘If God wants you to stay, that goal will be awarded to you.’ After the game, the goal was given to me, and I stayed at PSV.”
Looking back, Gakpo credits this decision for allowing him to play in the World Cup and eventually join Liverpool in January 2023 for over £35 million. Fans at Anfield are thrilled with his decision, especially given his impressive performances this season. After scoring seven goals in the latter half of the 2022/23 season, Gakpo has continued his strong form, netting 16 goals in his first full season with Liverpool.
This season, Gakpo’s output has significantly improved, with 14 goals and five assists in 32 appearances, putting him on course for his best season yet with the Reds.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Tony Cascarino praised the Dutch forward, stating that he appears “like a new signing compared to the Gakpo of last season.”