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'Silence was enough' - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opens up on how Liverpool career ended

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain spent six years at Liverpool, winning many major trophies. And he has now been speaking about his exit from the club in the summer.

Former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain arrives at Istanbul Airport to hold transfer talks with Besiktas on August 8, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey
Former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain arrives at Istanbul Airport to hold transfer talks with Besiktas in August(Image: Seskim Photo/MB Media/Getty Images)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has revealed there was a lack of communication with Jurgen Klopp over his future in his final season at Liverpool.


The England international was one of four senior players released by Liverpool heading into the summer transfer window. Naby Keita, James Milner and Roberto Firmino also departed Anfield for pastures new.


Oxlade-Chamberlain made a fine start to life with the Reds after his £35million move from Arsenal in August 2017. However, he sustained a serious knee injury in that season’s Champions League semi-final against Roma that limited his impact thereafter.


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Although he did win the Champions League, Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his time at Liverpool, the midfielder was resigned to just nine Premier League appearances last season as Liverpool boss Klopp opted to go with different options.


“Some of the younger players were getting an opportunity to be involved, getting them ready for years to come, which I understand," Oxlade-Chamberlain told The Athletic when asked about his lack of game time.

“I just guess you want that communicated to you because you start going out of your mind thinking, ‘what more can I do here?’. And it was never really written off that you’re not getting offered a new contract."

Asked how the decision not to renew his contract was communicated to him, Oxlade-Chamberlain replied: “It was never said. I obviously got the picture. I got told before they released the statement (three days before that Aston Villa game): ‘Just so you know, we’re putting this out about you, Milly, Bobby and Naby leaving’. And I was like, ‘Oh, okay. Thanks’. But there was nothing official at any point before. It was just… the silence was enough to know what the situation was.”

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He then added: “I want to be the best person to everyone around me and a good person to have around the lads, the staff, stuff like that. You just… expect certain things to be told - whether it’s good, bad, whatever, that’s how the game goes. The lack of communication was… a bit surprising.

“We (he and Klopp) had a good relationship. There was never any falling out or anything like that. I understand as a manager it’s not easy to navigate every player’s needs, but when I was playing, I definitely enjoyed him a lot more than when I wasn’t even on the bench (laughs). But that’s how it goes.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain, as a free agent, signed a three-year contract with Besiktas in August. He has so far scored one goal in six games for the Turkish giants.

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