Loris Karius has perhaps had more time to work on his physique than his team-mates after falling down the pecking order at Liverpool, and the German has undergone a staggering transformation
Liverpool flop Loris Karius would probably trade everything for another crack in the Champions League final against Real Madrid after his nightmare display four years ago. But things are looking up for the goalkeeper after showing off his recent incredible body transformation.
The 28-year-old is set to depart this summer as a free agent after the club declined to offer him a new contract. And not much has gone his way after making two calamitous errors in the 2018 final in Kyiv, costing the Reds their chance of claiming the sixth crown.
As his team-mates prepare for the grudge match in Paris at the Stade de France on Saturday, Karius will likely be back at the club’s luxury Corby training complex, working on bulking up his impressive physique and preparing for the next move in his career.
It represents a remarkable transformation from his early Liverpool days, when the 6’3 shot-stopper was more slender and lanky in build. Now, he boasts burgeoning biceps and a rock-hard six-pack to reflect his hard months of grafting in the gym.
Karius was the guilty party in handing Real their success four years ago, rolling the ball straight to Karim Benzema for the Frenchman to make it 2-1 and palming Gareth Bale’s effort into his own net to seal their fate. Two months later, Jurgen Klopp signed Alisson Becker for £67million and Karius’ spot as No.1 was over.
The German is rarely more than an afterthought at Anfield these days after slipping to fourth choice behind Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian in the pecking order. And after loan stints with Besiktas and Union Berlin, Karius will leave Liverpool after six years with the club.
Klopp, who never publicly blamed Karius for his errors despite the glaring double gaffe from the stopper, revealed the club had agreed to let him see out his contract before releasing Karius this summer.
Asked if Karius was leaving, Klopp said in January: ”Yeah, definitely. So, there are different things. One is Loris Karius the player, who is doing absolutely nothing wrong, who is in a really good shape, who is training very hard. He is committed, the goalie coaches are fully committed, that’s clear.
“Before the season we made a decision. Obviously it was in the club’s interest as well that Loris finds a new club, stuff like this. That didn’t happen, so fine. We made a decision. He’ll be treated completely normally absolutely but we have the goalies. As long as we don’t have a massive situation here, our No.1 is Ali, our No.2 is Caoimh, No.3 is Adrian.
“I think everybody is impressed by the development of Caoimhin Kelleher, who is ready for pretty much everything. We all know about the quality of Adrian and the impact he has on training and the dressing room and stuff like this and would always be ready to go. That’s it. But Loris, I wish him only the best and he will find a club whenever – now or in the summer. And then from there he will go on, I’m very sure.”
It is unknown as of yet where Karius will end up. But reports in Germany claim he has recently started dating German influencer beauty Janine Wiggert, who is based in Berlin. And that could point to his next club with a Bundesliga return certainly on the cards.
As long as Karius has his other half and a decent gym at hand, the goalkeeper will be satisfied.
SOURCE: dailystar.co.uk
