Takumi Minamino was surprised by Liverpool’s decision to loan him to Southampton.
The 26-year old forward made only two starts for the Reds and has struggled for game time under manager Jurgen Klopp.
His move to the Saints was confirmed on the deadline day.
The Japanese forward made six appearances for Southampton and has scored two goals in the process.
He was surprised by his loan decision and reached out to Japan team-mate Maya Yoshida for advice before agreeing to the move.
“It was the last day [of the transfer window], after training,” Minamino told Southampton’s official website.
“Some guys called me, and it just happened. I didn’t expect it at all, so I was probably the most surprised of anyone when I got the call.
“It was a good feeling. For me it was a good opportunity, and I was getting a positive feeling. I wanted to take this chance, and I came here.
“Before the deal was finalised around midnight, I had around 30 minutes to chat to Maya. I asked him about the team, the manager and the players.
“He told me everything, he explained some positives about this team. I spoke with Maya a lot.”
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