If Lucas Leiva were Liverpool’s pet cat, there’s every chance his remains would now be sat in an urn on the mantlepiece.
Rarely has a player come back from the brink of being no longer needed more often than the Brazilian, whose feline equivalent’s nine lives were used up long ago, with the now 29-year-old having reinvented himself on so many occasions that even the most ardent of Kopites struggle to remember the young, blonde-haired midfielder that arrived on Merseyside back in 2007.
This coming summer will mark nine years since his arrival, but there’s a good chance Lucas won’t see that milestone, with a loan move to Inter Milan seemingly on the cards. Indeed, the Daily Mail have revealed that Liverpool are ‘open’ to the idea of letting their man go, and their report is just the tip of an iceberg of stories that have spanned the last week.
It seems that a six-month loan spell, which will take him to the end of his current contract, is the destination this long and winding road will end up at, and it’s hard not to look at this with a twinge of sadness and, potentially worry. Lucas’ career on the banks of the River Mersey has been far from a picnic, so it’s somewhat ironic that he could leave Liverpool at a period in which they need him the most.
In the summer of 2007, Liverpool paid £6m for one of the rising stars of Brazilian football. Lucas had been capped by the Selecao’s youth teams, made himself a regular in the Gremio side – helping them to promotion to the top tier and a subsequent third place finish – and was seen as one of the top talents in his home continent. His style of play was, arguably, the most exciting thing about him, with the then-fledgling talent having risen with his team as a box-to-box midfield player possessing a natural desire to get forward, a thunderous shot and the athleticism to break beyond his strikers.
He didn’t have a prolific eye for goal, something that has not changed in the years since, but his passing won him plaudits, and it was easy to see why Rafael Benitez, who was in charge of the Reds at the time, wanted him. Imagine his potential alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.
Alas, Lucas’ adjustment period was lengthy. Patience, at a time in which Liverpool’s fanbase was divided and issues ran deeper than just those concerning action on the pitch, was in short supply too, and the youngster was often made the scapegoat for Benitez’s ardent desire to rotate his teams. Jetted-in in place of Gerrard, Alonso or Mascherano, he was always on a hiding to nothing.
And this was how his first season and a bit in England panned out before Alonso left for Real Madrid in 2009, opening up a deeper role for him. Mascherano then departed the following summer in a fallow period for the club and Lucas was leaned on by then manager Roy Hodgson to anchor the midfield when fit and shone further, seemingly finding himself at the club.
Injuries came and went, but Lucas won the 2010/11 Standard Chartered Player of the Season award, seemingly completing his transformation. It could be argued that his talents were only highlighted when those around him were not of the quality associated with Liverpool, but that shouldn’t distract from some truly noteworthy displays.
Alas, rumours have never been far away over the years since, with moves to Italy or Turkey mooted every time the transfer window opens, while he’s also dropped further back into a central defensive role under Jurgen Klopp.
Nobody has really been shocked that Lucas is once again being linked with a transfer, but it’s the timing that seems odd. In summers past it’s seemed almost logical to let him leave, but with older players having departed on an almost annual basis, the boy born in Dourados is now the most senior player at the club and one whose importance is now no longer limited to what he can do when called upon in the XI.
Lucas seems to be the hub for the club’s Hispanic contingent. A quick look at Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho or Alberto Moreno’s Instagram accounts references this, with the experienced midfielder almost always in shot. It’s a role he’s fulfilled for a while now after being close friends with Luis Suarez, while his impact on Coutinho in his early days at Anfield should not be overlooked. Lucas has come through adversity and offers the unique perspective of being a ‘Liverpool man’ – both in terms of club and city – as well as an outsider. He’s someone new players can relate to and older ones can speak to in confidence.
Hermanos A photo posted by Philippe Coutinho (@phil.coutinho) on Sep 18, 2016 at 8:53am PDT
While this importance has grown, the need for him on the field has, however, waned. Lucas is now fourth choice centre-back at Liverpool – soon to be fifth assuming Joe Gomez can come back from his injury in a timely fashion over the next few weeks – and is seemingly behind Kevin Stewart when it comes to playing in central midfield. He’s still an experienced head and a player worth having on the bench, but, from an emotionally detached perspective, he’s not vital to the way Liverpool play, meaning a move away from the club makes sense.
Alas, in this whirlwind season in which Liverpool have a genuine shout of challenging for a first ever Premier League title, his all-round importance has swelled. Behind the scenes it’s easy to imagine Lucas rallying the troops, lending advice to his fellow players and keeping everyone grounded as the crosshairs are trained on top spot come May, while his experience in the closing stages of tight matches will surely be of use – who would you rather bring on 1-0 up at Old Trafford with 15 minutes to go: Lucas or Stewart?
It all boils down to what the player wants, though. Lucas has more than enough credit in the bank to have the decision put in his own hands. Six months in Milan and the chance to play regular football as he battles for what might well be his last major contract is not without its appeal. Right now, he looks set to be limited to cameo and cup outings at Liverpool, which may well see his stock plummet, so from a longevity point of view, being in the shop window might be best.
However, Liverpool and Klopp must be hoping that this is not the end of what has been a long and bumpy journey. While supporters call for January investment, the biggest move the club might make is to persuade Lucas to give it six more months on Merseyside.
It would be fitting for one of the club’s true cult heroes to be around should that elusive piece of silverware end up in the Anfield trophy cabinet once more.
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