'I broke down when I left Liverpool but I was right to turn down contract'

Liverpool offered a new contract to back-up goalkeeper Adrian last summer, but the veteran decided to move back to his boyhood club Real Betis instead of warming the bench

Adrian had to tear himself away from Liverpool last summer, but he is certain he made the right decision. The veteran goalkeeper turned down the offer of a new deal to leave Liverpool and re-join his boyhood club Real Betis last summer.

Adrian joined the Reds from West Ham on a free transfer in 2019 and spent five seasons as a back-up keeper under Jurgen Klopp ’s management. He made just 26 appearances, often sitting on the substitutes’ bench watching Alisson play, but still won a succession of trophies.

The 38-year-old was a popular member of the squad, yet had slipped to third choice, behind Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher. Sporting director Richard Hughes still offered the Spaniard a new one-year deal to stay under Arne Slot's management, but he decided a return to Betis was the right choice for his family.

“I cried when I left Liverpool. I didn’t get a chance to say a proper goodbye to the fans, so I had to make a video on my social media. I was at home with my family and I just broke down after,” he told The Athletic.

“I felt sorry for my kids because they had spent all of their lives in the UK. I had five wonderful seasons there and won all the trophies, except the Champions League. One side of my heart was saying, ‘Come on, I love Liverpool, I love my Scouse people’.

“It was difficult saying no to Liverpool. It’s hard leaving a place where you feel loved by everyone, but this decision was about me and my family. I had a conversation with Richard Hughes, and they tried to convince me to stay, but, as I said, this was the right move for me.

“I was aware of Betis’ interest before the end of the season, but it was nothing formal. This is my boyhood club. I played here from the age of 10 until I was 26. All my family support the club, and my brother is a season ticket holder.

“I enjoyed my time at Liverpool, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to rejoin the club I love. Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world but this was a decision from my heart.”

Adrian was reunited with Manuel Pellegrini – his former West Ham manager – in Seville and is enjoying the change of scenery. He has made 21 appearances for Betis this season – almost as many as in five years at Liverpool – and the club are pushing for silverware.

Betis are 2-1 up over Fiorentina after the first leg of their Conference League semi-final and are sixth in La Liga, pushing for a place in next season’s Champions League. While he is happy to be back in the south of Spain, Adrian revealed that a reminder of Liverpool will always be with them in the form of the Scouse accents two of his children picked up.

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