Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he was “surprised” by Roberto Firmino’s decision to leave Anfield at the end of the season.
The Brazil forward will end an eight-year stay at Anfield when his contract expires in June.
“Surprised? Yes, a little bit – it could go two ways and it went one. And I respect that a lot,” Klopp said on Friday.
“But it’s completely normal in this kind of long relationship that we have and Bobby has with the club.”
Firmino scored seven goals in 13 Premier League games prior to the break for the World Cup but suffered a calf injury that kept him out for two months following the domestic restart.
He returned in February’s derby win over Everton but has been limited to five substitute appearances with January signing Cody Gakpo preferred up front alongside Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah.