BABEL REVEALS BIGGEST CAREER REGRET

Ex-Premier League winger Ryan Babel has opened up on his biggest regret as a professional football player. Ryan Babel talked about his biggest career regret in an interview with the Daily Mirror. According to the Dutch international player, his biggest regret is leaving Liverpool after his almost four-year stay on Merseyside. Ryan Babel became a Liverpool player in the summer of 2007.

Liverpool paid big money to secure his signature. The Reds paid  €17.25m to sign Ryan Babel from Ajax Amsterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie. At the end of his Liverpool career, he had represented the six-time European champions almost 150 times. Ryan Babel had an attacking output of 22 goals and 18 assists in his 146 appearances for Liverpool. Ryan Babel was a decent player for the Reds during his time at Anfield but he was unable to win any silverware. He was at Liverpool until January 2011 when he left for German Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim.

Ryan Babel told the Daily Mirror that TSG Hoffenheim had become a real force in the German top flight when he arrived at the club but it was still the biggest regret of his career. According to him, the idea behind his move from Liverpool to TSG Hoffenheim is to get more playing time under his belt to stay in contention for a place in the Dutch national team. Ryan Babel said he didn’t realise how dominating the playing style at Liverpool until he left the club for TSG Hoffenheim.

Since leaving Liverpool, Ryan Babel has struggled to establish himself in any team for a long period of time. The interview with the Daily Mirror shows that Ryan Babel holds Liverpool in high regard and the reason for his exit a decade ago is understandable as he wanted more playing time to keep his place in the Dutch team.