On the 17th July 2017, Liverpool confirmed the departure of Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva from the club for Italian side Lazio.
The Anfield favourite was let go by the Merseyside club after 10 years of service and over 300 appearances for Liverpool. Lucas is considered a cult hero at the club and remains one of the fans favourite players in the Premier League era.
The robust defensive midfielder joined Liverpool in 2007 from Gremio for a reported fee of £9 million, making 345 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals during that time.
His departure from Liverpool was an emotional one, here is how fans reacted when the news broke that their favourite Brazilian was leaving for Lazio.
Thank you Lucas you’re a great man who epitomises what the Liverpool way is.
— Ade Long (@fourwheelsbad69) July 18, 2017
Good luck to u and the family. Great servant of Liverpool club. YNWA
— Stevie G (@Zain01000884) July 18, 2017
Good luck Lucas. You will be missed. A great representative of the LFC shirt. You get what the club is about, love it and the city. YNWA
— Jed Hawe (@HaweJed) July 19, 2017
I am going to miss you. 10 years at @LFC. Thank you for everything.
— Jay Newey (@Jay_Measures) July 19, 2017
What an amazing player you are, so rare to find dedicated players like yourself.
All the best mate! Thank you for everything,God Bless. LL21— Foxy Heart (@FoxyHeart2) July 19, 2017
You’re an inspiration to many and will always be welcomed back to anfield I’m sure. YNWA
— Paul Maggs (@Maggs2Paul) July 19, 2017
I am sorry you couldn’t win enough trophies but you won our hearts.#ThanksLucas
— Ibrahim (@IbrahimOsama_) July 18, 2017
True legend, sad to see you go. Hope it works out at Lazio. #Brazillianscouser YNWA
— LFCWAYNE73 (@lfc197373) July 18, 2017
Since leaving the Premier League, Lucas has been one of Lazio’s most important players in the squad, making 77 appearances in the two years the 32-year-old has spent at the club.
In his first season with the club, Lucas and company came agonisingly close to securing Champions League football for the first time since the 2007/08 season, however, the final match of the season against Inter Milan saw the Roman club miss out after losing 3-2.
This season has been another encouraging one for Lazio and Lucas. The Roman side sits fifth in the table, four points off a Champions League spot that AC Milan this time occupy, and the Brazilian midfielder has yet again been an important part of Simone Inzaghi’s side.
Injury has kept Lucas out of a handful of games this season, but whenever the midfielder is fit, the Brazilian is right back in the midfield, anchoring the Lazio team as he did for Liverpool for the good part 10 years.
Lucas has proven to be a reliable player after Liverpool, and the Brazilian is still someone who holds a special place in the hearts of Reds fans everywhere.
Liverpool fans, what was your favourite memory of Lucas? Let us know!
