Nigeria and Paris FC winger Moses Simon has admitted that he regrets how he acted at KAA Gent when trying to secure a move to Liverpool in 2018. The 30-year-old, who scored three times for Ligue 1 newcomers Paris FC last campaign, has revealed that his career could have played out very differently had he completed his dream move to the Premier League nearly a decade ago.
Liverpool Interest and Failed Transfer
Simon played for Gent between 2015 and 2018, and revealed that Liverpool came closest to securing his signature during this time. The Super Eagles star was firmly on Liverpool’s radar ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, with Jurgen Klopp's side reportedly tabling a £10m offer for Simon’s services. However, the Reds' pursuit was soon abandoned, and Xherdan Shaqiri instead made the move to Anfield.
Speaking in an interview with Urban Dwell Sport, Simon disclosed that several clubs including Liverpool, Tottenham, Brighton, Fulham and Hull City were all interested in signing him during his time in Belgium.
Regret Over Behaviour at Gent
Simon admitted that the transfer to Liverpool falling through had a profound effect on him mentally, leading to him losing motivation at Gent. "The second year [at Gent], I was supposed to go to Liverpool," Simon said. "It didn’t work. In my head, I was like: 'Is it the agent or the club? I don't want to play.' So I was putting it in my head: 'Whether I play or I don't, I don't care.'"
The 30-year-old further revealed that he believed sacrificing his form and reducing the quality of his performances would force Gent into selling him. "I [thought] if I don't play, the club will find a way to quickly sell me," Simon admitted. "The club bought me for €1million (£852,000), but after one year, they wanted €25million (£21.3million)."
Advice to Young Players
With age comes wisdom, and Simon has now revealed he regrets how poorly he handled the situation, and urged younger footballers not to make the same mistakes he did. He added: "If I was an experienced player, I would push for everything because the more you play, the more market value you have. So every young player out there, whether there’s a rumour or no rumour, just give everything. A transfer can come, and you go. If it doesn’t come, continue because your club is paying you. This is the contract you signed."
Career After Gent
Despite missing out on his dream move to Anfield, Simon has enjoyed a distinguished career, winning multiple trophies along the way. The 30-year-old has earned 98 caps for Nigeria and is on the verge of becoming just the fifth player in the nation's history to reach the 100-cap milestone. He has played in Belgium, Spain and France, representing clubs such as Levante and Nantes before joining Paris FC.
