Xherdan Shaqiri “Happy” to Be Back With Liverpool Teammates

It’s no secret a departure from the club for Xherdan Shaqiri this summer would probably suit all parties, with the player recently admitting he’s “ready for a new challenge” and the club needing to open up space in the roster if they intend on making new signings.

For the time being at least, though, he’s still at the club—and back in training with his teammates after a summer off following his involvements at Euro 2021 with Switzerland. And for the time being at least, he’s still got Liverpool media duties to attend to.

“I’m happy to be with the team again here,” he told the club’s official website. I’m looking forward to having a good pre-season and start a good campaign again. We had some holidays, the guys who were at the Euros or the Copa America, [now] I’m feeling good.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the club’s media team didn’t ask Shaqiri about his thoughts on any potential transfer away from the club, with everyone seemingly playing along like it’s business as usual despite some seemingly quite serious links to Napoli and Lazio.

Plus, of course, serious interest doesn’t always end in a done transfer deal—there’s probably a quite decent chance Shaqiri remains at the club for the coming season. And as far as Liverpool’s fringe players go, he’s at least one who has shown he can contribute.

“I’m looking forward to the new season,” he added. “Hopefully we’re going to achieve what we want to achieve. Our goal is always to win, to play for titles, and to give 100%. Then we will see what happens. But, of course, we’re going to try everything to win.”

“Obviously we have a few players who were injured, they are back and they give us [an] extra boost for sure. The fans are going to be back again, I think, and that also gives us another boost to try to achieve our goals this season.”