Aribo reveals how Liverpool legend affected his development

Aribo’s career has grown in leaps and bounds in the past five years, and a critical component of that growth was the former Liverpool ace

Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo has iterated that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard played a big role in his development after his move to Rangers in 2019.

Aribo joined Southampton from Rangers earlier this month after three seasons of eye-catching displays.

However, it has been an interesting past five years for the Nigeria international.

Aribo was just a young player with great potential when he left Charlton Athletic for Rangers on a free transfer in 2019. He had a lot to prove, and fortunately for him, he was blessed with a retired midfield dynamo as his coach.

The 25-year-old grew in leaps and bounds under former Liverpool star Gerrard. The retired midfielder ace made the Nigerian midfielder an integral component of his setup from his first season.

By the start of the second season, Aribo was already an established Rangers star, featuring in 25 games in the run-up to the Gers’ flawless Premiership triumph.

Gerrard left Rangers last season, while Aribo is now at Southampton, but the 25-year-old iterates that Gerrard helped him develop.

 

“Playing under Steven Gerrard was amazing, Aribo said via Twitter.

“He was a big factor in me joining because I felt wanted. He’d banter with me, he was just really good to me.

“Even off the field, if I was off-form, or I didn’t see myself on the training ground, he would notice it and pull me to his office and speak to me.

 

Aribo left Ibrox as a winner, claiming the Scottish FA Cup. He also helped Rangers to the finals of the Europa League, but his goal in the final was not enough to guide the Gers to victory.

He would look to shine under his new boss Ralph Hasenhüttl at Southampton when the Premier League resumes in August.