There is a lot of respect and admiration for Can as he edges closer to moving on.
Liverpool are set to lose two big players in the coming weeks and months. While Philippe Coutinho is expected to finally seal his dream move to Barcelona at some point this month (hopefully sooner rather than later), Emre Can will soon follow him out the Anfield exit doors.
The Germany international is reportedly in advanced talks with Juventus but is free to do so because he has entered the last six months of his contract with the Reds. The 23-year-old midfielder has long been tipped for a switch to Turin and that deal looks closer to becoming a reality after Sky Sports revealed that the player’s representatives are locked in negotiations with the Italian club.
You would understand if Liverpool supporters expressed frustration or disappointment at losing a talented midfielder whose best years are ahead of him, but they have been surprisingly philosophical response to the news. The key is that Can will not leave Liverpool this month. He can agree a pre-contract with Juventus which will allow him to move to the Serie A champions once his deal at Anfield expires in the summer.
Fair play to Emre Can. Gutted he’s leaving as I really like him and it’s his right if he wants to, but at least he’ll be leaving in the summer and hasn’t once kicked up a fuss, and this is to join Juventus not some random club. Different class between him and Coutinho.
— – (@AnfieldRd96) January 4, 2018
When the news about Can’s talks with Juventus was posted on Liverpool’s Reddit page, most of the top comments were those thanking the player for his service and for honouring his contract, a feeling of gratefulness which was certainly not reflected when Coutinho’s name came up.
“Thanks for not being a fucking snake like Countinho. Ps love your hair,” one Redditor said. “At least he’s gone about it in a professional way,” added another. “I will always respect Emre for the way he’s handled things regarding this. At least he didn’t sign a contract for 5 years and then faked injuries just months later to get a move. He honored his contract and he owes the club nothing. YNWA Emre,” echoed a third user.
Fair play to Can, and fair play to Liverpool fans. There has been a quiet acceptance on Merseyside that Can’s future may lie elsewhere. However, he has secured the admiration of the club’s supporters by seeing out his contract before moving on. Coutinho, in stark contrast, signed a new five-year contract in January which made him the club’s highest-paid player before trying to force through a move to Barcelona six months later.
Of course, some sections of the Liverpool fanbase have recently praised Coutinho for continuing to play for the club, but it’s no secret that he is still agitating for a move away. In the middle of the season, with Liverpool battling to secure a top-four finish and preparing to face Porto in the Champions League knockout round next month, the majority of fans have grown disgruntled with how Coutinho has behaved.
If Can moves to Juventus, he will most likely receive warm applause if he returns to face Liverpool in the future. The same almost certainly can’t be said for Coutinho should he come up against Liverpool clad in Barca’s colours.
