Roberto Firmino once gave up £45,000 bonus for Sadio Mane to score

Robert Firmino over seasons past often comes under heavy criticisms due to his lack of scoring stats compared to other forward players in the Liverpool rank.

But that being said, the Brazilian is one of Klopp’s most trusted player and key member in the heavy metal football Liverpool have come to be known for. If not until recently, the Liverpool number 9 has always been included in the starting lineup in games.

He is a player that is well loved by all around the club, due to his cheerful nature and selfless attitude on the pitch. A story leaked by The Dirty Business of Football has shown why the Brazilian is well.

According to their report, Roberto Firmino is revealed to have given up  an incredible £45,000 match day bonus after letting Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane score against Stoke City in 2017.

The Brazilian was alleged to have been earning a basic wage of £68,085 per week at the time with match day bonuses set to topple the wage dependent on his weekly performances in games, and on how many goals he scored.

The bonuses were speculated to have been in the range of £25,000 for each first five goals he scored, £45,000 for reaching ten and £65,000 from 11 onwards.

But on the afternoon of that specific match day against Stoke City, Firmino had a perfect scoring opportunity to pocket more money to his weekly wages but chose to let Sadio Mane earn the glory.

It supposedly happened in the 17 minute when Mane was played through on goal.

The Senegalese had dinked the ball over the opposition goalkeeper, Lee Grant. However, the Keeper managed to get a fingertip to stop Mane’s effort.

Of course, the ball was on target but it was slowing down in its path to the net. Firmino had a chance to steal the goal by pushing it past the goal line, but the Brazilian chose to let the ball roll over the line.

‘Firmino could’ve easily nabbed Mane’s goal,” BBC Sport writer Raj Chohan tweeted at the time. “Sums him up: selfless player.”

At a time when Liverpool are criticized for its pay rate, to see a player act so self less in such situations, speaks more of the character within the Liverpool team.

In more ways than none, Roberto Firmino is one of the catalyst to Liverpool’s success in the modern day.