Ex-Liverpool star says player 'moved like Lionel Messi' but was let down by his attitude
Former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel named an unlikely player alongside Steven Gerrard as his most talented team-mate, likening the winger in question to Lionel Messi
Former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has named his unlikely former team-mate who reminded him of Lionel Messi. The Dutchman retired in 2023 after a career that spanned 10 clubs across six countries.
In 2007, Babel arrived at Liverpool as a top prospect from Ajax. The Netherlands international was signed for £12million and made 146 appearances during his three-and-a-half years at Anfield.
Although Babel occasionally struggled to live up to his price tag, some moments proved why the Reds splashed out on the young forward. However, when asked about his most talented team-mates, Babel named Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard alongside an unexpected player from his time in Turkey, who was reminiscent of Messi in training but failed to consistently deliver on the pitch.
'Stevie was the best I played with by a mile. His work ethic on the training pitch was so far above anyone else, and he was a real inspiration to me and really influenced my career,' Babel told BetMGM.
'I was very lucky to play with top-class players for both club and country, many of whom weren't big names but you would watch them in training and just be blown away.
'The one who stood out for me was Emre Mor, who I played with at Galatasaray. He was left-footed and honestly he moved like Lionel Messi – he was that good on the ball.'
Mor is currently on loan at Eyupspor from Fenerbahce, scoring once and providing four assists during 15 games in the Super Lig this season. Babel only spent six months alongside the winger during the 2019/20 campaign, but Mor clearly made a lasting impression.
'Unfortunately, he has never really cracked it at one club, and I don't think mentally he's quite in the right place to be successful,' Babel explained. 'He would always point fingers at the manager and other players instead of looking in the mirror.
'If you saw him train and on raw ability, he was about as good as they come. His left foot was unbelievable, and it's a big shame he hasn't been able to show that on the big stage.'
Mor, 27, has earned 15 caps for Turkey and started out at Danish side Nordsjælland before earning moves to Borussia Dortmund and Celta Vigo. He initially returned to Turkey on loan and sealed a permanent exit with Fenerbahce in 2022, but has since been loaned to Fatih Karagumruk and Eyupspor.
Babel, who won the Super Lig with Besiktas in 2017, will hope Mor eventually begins to fulfil his potential before retiring. The Dutch forward hung up his boots two years ago, having won multiple major honours, though he failed to win a trophy with Liverpool.
However, Babel praised the role his compatriot and former team-mate Virgil van Dijk has played in helping to lead the Reds to Premier League glory this term. The 38-year-old also celebrated the defender's new contract.
'There are many good defenders and Virgil is one of those, but there's something about him that's just different,' Babel admitted. 'I played with and against him, and his aura almost scares opposition players off. I think that gives him the X-factor versus just his footballing skills.
'He doesn't do things that we haven't necessarily seen before, but he doesn't make mistakes, and the one thing I always look for in a top player is that they make their team-mates play better – and he does that. Virgil does everything a good defender should do, but that's not why he's one of the best around. It's the things we don't see both on and off the field which make him special as a player and as a leader.
'It helps that he's playing in a winning team, too. If he played for a team like Arsenal, I'm not sure we'd rave about him as much as we do. Liverpool are very lucky to have him.
'It was crucial for Liverpool that they kept him. Arne Slot wants to build a team that can battle in the Premier League and Europe for many seasons to come, and Virgil is a key part of that. They'd be a much weaker team without him, so it's great he signed a new deal.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
11 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Ange Postecoglou's wild ride ends at Spurs after steering Australia back to the big time
Ange Postecoglou took Tottenham Hotspur on the wildest of rides. A record-breaking run to begin his first Premier League campaign in charge. An injury-riddled slump that led Spurs to within sight of relegation the next season. A promise to win a trophy in his second year. The club's first piece of silverware since 2008. The sack coming just 16 days later. All-out attack. Defensive dare. Stirring late comebacks. Calamitous and costly goals conceded at the death. No score was safe. No Spurs supporter, let alone pundit, was left without an entrenched view of his capabilities as a coach. No football fan, whether in north London or as far away as Australia, dared to look away. The hair-raising adventure is one that Australian football fans have been on before. During Postecoglou's time in charge of the men's national team, as the Socceroos failed to earn a point in a horror group at the 2014 World Cup but rallied to win the Asian Cup the following year. When the coach had earlier led Brisbane Roar to a pair of A-League championships, and later won the J1 League with Yokohama and five trophies with Scottish giants Celtic. A manic press in attack. A high line in defence. Goals at both ends. Peaks and troughs across each game, let alone during a full campaign. A rollercoaster ride has always been part of the Postecoglou experience. Taking the show on the road to Japan and Scotland sparked fresh Australian interest in Postecoglou's teams and those leagues. But bringing it to the Premier League has steered Australia back to the big time. Not since the days when Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka graced the main stage have Australians been given such a solid reason to support a second English team. As fans relished watching Postecoglou rattle the football establishment, Tottenham Hotspur became the hottest club in his distant homeland. A whirlwind stirred up around a brash foreign manager arriving in the Premier League is nothing new. A laconic Australian demeanour and press conferences peppered with gratuitous use of the term 'mate' – while otherwise doing little to conceal a hard edge and stubborn confidence – left fans as much as the media hanging off his every word, while his compatriots were warmed by a sense of pride. The 59-year-old has been unwavering in his ideals, for better or worse, throughout his coaching journey. Postecoglou is not just comfortable dividing opinion. He often appears to go out of his way to hammer a wedge through it. But whether Spurs' ruthless decision to axe a coach who led the club to a European title just 16 days earlier is the right call is much less clear and will remain one up for debate. After a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, just two points and one spot short of a ticket to the Champions League, Postecoglou this season guided Spurs to their worst top-flight finish in more than a century. Did Spurs pay a heavy price for their commitment to an intense style that caused the heart of the side to be ripped out through injury? Or was the coach handed a poisoned chalice with a thin squad relying too much on talented youth to compete on multiple fronts and then go all-in on a knockout competition in the chase for silverware? Whether or not their Premier League campaign was truly allowed to just wither away, as Postecoglou has since suggested, Spurs found a back door to the lucrative continental competition on an emotion-charged night in Bilbao. Spurs' 17-year trophy drought was finally broken with Europa League glory, leading to lifelong memories to be created in the Spanish city and later on the streets of north London, while Postecoglou was lauded back home as one of Australia's great exports. It was as much validation for Australian football as a victory for a favourite son. Proof that one of our own not only belonged on the global stage, but could conquer it – even if for one night only. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion The response in Australia to Postecoglou's sacking has, perhaps unsurprisingly, been centred around dismay and disappointment rather than simply one of shock. Spurs, under chair Daniel Levy, are after all a club that sacked Mauricio Pochettino mere months after he took them to the 2019 Champions League final. Another divisive coach in José Mourinho was let go in the week leading into the 2021 League Cup decider. Here is further proof that winning a trophy isn't necessarily everything in the high stakes world of football, or even just enough to save a coach's job. Spurs will now have another new manager for the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain in August, and never find out whether season three under Postecoglou would have been better than season two. Postecoglou has arrived at a new coaching frontier after being sent packing while still under contract. Where he lands next, whether looking to right any perceived wrongs back in the Premier League or as a breath of fresh air elsewhere in Europe, we can be sure that he will take his principles with him and that Australian football fans will follow.
Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool face Florian Wirtz dispute with Bayer Leverkusen as 7 exits confirmed
Liverpool are prominent in the transfer market this summer after conducting minimal business 12 months ago and the Reds are keen to land Florian Wirtz in the coming weeks Liverpool have wasted little time getting busy in the transfer market this summer. The Reds have already brought Jeremie Frimpong to the club from Bayer Leverkusen but have more on the agenda for Arne Slot. Florian Wirtz is top of the list as the Anfield side attempt to come to an agreement with Leverkusen once again. A British record deal awaits if Liverpool can iron out any discrepencies with a deal expected to go through. The club are also looking to land Milos Kerkez as Slot looks to reinforce at full-back. After conducting minimal business for his first season, the Dutch boss is set to leave his imprint on the squad. There are sure to be players follow Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the club too. Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliot and Darwin Nunez, among others, all face uncertain futures. Mirror Football takes a look at the latest Liverpool transfer news and rumours below. Robertson speaks out Andy Robertson is not worried about the prospect of competition from Milos Kerkez at left-back next season. The Bournemouth star looks set to arrive at Anfield this summer, while Robertson has just a year remaining on his contract. The Scotland international has confidence in himself to continue to challenge for a place and believes he still has a lot to give. "We're not daft, it looks as if a deal could potentially be done," Robertson told BBC Scotland. "But, until that is done, I've not even given that a second thought. I back myself, I've got confidence in my own ability and that drives me forward. "I've had eight fantastic years at Liverpool in terms of winning trophies, being a mainstay in the team, which I'm incredibly proud of. I'm not getting any younger, I can't change my age, but I still believe I've got a lot to give and that's what I focus on. "I focus on myself - you can't focus on other people or who you're competing with. I still believe I have a hell of a lot to give for however many years I can keep going. My body feels good at the minute. "I can't tell you how I'll feel at 33 or 34, but I can tell you, at 31, I feel excellent. I've been fit for every game, I've not missed a training session and that's not a sign of someone who is slowing down. "I've got a year left at Liverpool, I'm looking forward to a switch off, I'm looking forward to a holiday and then I'll look forward to pre-season. What the future holds after that? I've not given it too much thought." Wirtz drama Florian Wirtz is set to be at the centre of a 'million-dollar dispute' when he completes his transfer to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen. According to a report from BILD, the German side are set to receive plenty of attention from Koln as they attempt to ensure they receive all the money they are entitled to. "Of course, we are looking into it," Wolf said on Radio Cologne. "We know what we are entitled to and will fight for it. We're looking at this with both eyes. We'll benefit from it. The higher the sum Liverpool is willing to pay, the better for us." Per FIFA's rules, any club that has played a role in a player's development between the age of 12 and 23 will receive five per cent of any transfer fee in compensation. Wirtz trained with Koln for nine-and-a-half years from the age of seven. Koln are said to be planning to argue that Wirtz's 'training' period concluded long before he turned 23 as a result of him earning his Leverkusen at 17 and becoming a Germany international when he was 18. This is in hope of proving they are entitled to the maximum amount of compensation from any transfer. The side could be due around £6.3m if Liverpool end up paying Leverkusen's £126m asking price. Koln are set to engage with the FIFA Clearing House to ensure the highest payout possible. Liverpool confirm exits Liverpool have announced that seven players have left the club following the expiration of their contracts. Academy products Dominic Corness, Louis Enahoro-Marcus, Harry Evers, Lee Jonas, Jakub Ojrzynski, Jacob Poytress and Reece Trueman will all be released by the new Premier League champions and search for new clubs. The Reds meanwhile, have offered new deals to eight young players. Kareem Ahmed, Emmanuel Airoboma, Keyrol Figueroa, Kyle Kelly, Michael Laffey, Wellity Lucky, Terence Miles and Ranel Young, all have the opportunity to extend their stays.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Viktor Gyokeres shares transfer update as Arsenal's four-man shortlist emerges
Arsenal are keen to strengthen their squad this summer and the club has vowed to back manager Mikel Arteta in the transfer market, following the appointment of new sporting director Andrea Berta Arsenal are looking to mount another Premier League title challenge next season and they are ready to invest in their squad this summer. The Gunners have finished second for the past three seasons and are desperate to go one better and win the league for the first time since 2004. Arsenal are set to sign midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, but Mikel Arteta also wants to strengthen a number of other positions. "We plan to invest to get behind winning and doing better next season," Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke said. "We're delighted we have our sporting director, Andrea [Berta], who will play an important role in this. "He is part of a unified and strong team, supported by the board, who are crystal clear on exactly what we need to do and the way in which we want to do it. The right way. The Arsenal way." With all that in mind, Mirror Football brings you some of the latest news and rumours from the Emirates... Gabriel's new deal Gabriel Magalhaes has signed a new four-year contract that will keep the Brazilian at the Emirates until 2029. Gabriel has been central to Arsenal's progression under Arteta, forming a key partnership at the back with William Saliba. "It's an amazing club and I'm so proud to sign a new contract," Gabriel said. "I love this club, I love the fans, my teammates, I love this stadium - I'm so proud and thank you for all the support. I arrived here as a young player, and [now it's] almost five years at this club. I'm so happy, and I've learned a lot here." Gyokeres update Viktor Gyokeres has delivered an update on his future, with Arsenal among the clubs interested in signing the Sporting striker. The Gunners are said to be weighing up a £60m move for the forward and Gyokeres has admitted he wants to move somewhere with a similar culture to the one in Lisbon that he has become accustomed to. "After living in a warm country, it would be difficult [moving back to Sweden]," he told Swedish Vogue. "In Sweden, people work hard during the week and only socialize on the weekends. Here there is more life during the week. They have dinners with friends, a glass of wine on Monday. I like that." Four-man shortlist Arsenal are also in the market for a new left winger and Real Madrid star Rodrygo is their top target, according to a report from Sky Sports. It is claimed that Rodrygo's future at the Bernabeu is unclear and he is set to hold talks with new boss Xabi Alonso in the coming days. Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams, Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane and Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers are also on Arsenal's radar.
