Hugo Ekitike was asked about how he coped with the pressure of joining the Champions of England and his answer will delight Liverpool supporters.
Hugo Ekitike has been under the spotlight a great deal over the past few years. He signed for PSG in 2022 on a loan deal which was made permanent. All appeared to be going well until the young Frenchman was left out of PSG’s Champions League squad for the 2023/24 season. He made just one appearance during the campaign and joined Eintracht Frankfurt in February.
Ekitike’s spell in Germany was successful and became the key which unlocked his big money move to the Premier League. Liverpool signed the 23-year-old in a deal worth £79m in a summer where the club used all their resources to strengthen Arne Slot’s squad.
Ekitike was linked with several clubs, including Newcastle United, before making his way to Merseyside. Liverpool dug deep in order to get a deal done with Eintracht Frankfurt. The Reds went on to spend a further £125m on Swedish striker Alexander Isak.
Ekitike has already hit the ground running, scoring four goals in his first seven appearances. Despite fierce competition for a starting spot and the weight of expectation that comes with his price tag, the striker insists he is taking it all in his stride
He told Canal+: “I don’t care.”
“Everything that can be said on the outside, the transfer fee, it is what it is. Football changed. You have a big price tag on your back? Just play football.”
Ekitike is certainly not wrong. Big money signings have become the norm whenever the transfer window opens. In fact, the France international was relatively cheap in comparison with Alexander Isak, who cost Liverpool £125m.
Clearly the striker is his own biggest critic. He is not looking for excuses, but has his mind set on rising to the occasion and making an impact at Liverpool.
This impact has already been made, as Ekitike has three goals and an assist to his name in just six appearances. He scored in Liverpool’s most recent Premier League fixture against Everton to give his team a two-goal advantage, which proved to be important later in the match.
Explaining his decision to turn down Newcastle, Ekitike said it was purely a matter of timing and instinct.
“It was my choice, it’s what I wanted. Because I had more of a feeling coming here and I knew it was the right time and the right place for me. I wanted to get back to the top level and come back this time better equipped, more ready in all aspects. And I don’t think I made a mistake.”
It is still early days for Ekitike at Liverpool, but he is off to a flying start. If he keeps his head down and sticks with his gritty mentality, he can go a long way during his time in England. Slot may have Isak, but Ekitike will keep doing everything in his power to show he deserves to start on a weekly basis.
