Liverpool midfielder Lallana admits 'regret' over Southampton exit

Posted Friday, February 20, 2015 by Talksport.co.uk

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana revealed he regrets how his summer switch from Southampton to Anfield transpired last summer, but claims he did not force a move away from his former club.

The 26-year-old was one of three Saints players signed by Brendan Rodgers in the summer, with Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert also brought in to the Merseyside club.

The Reds made three separate bids for Lallana before a fee of £25million was agreed, and the England international admitted the move will have left a "sour taste" among some of Southampton's supporters.

"I'm not stupid enough to think the way I left didn't leave a sour taste in a few people's mouths," he told the BBC.

"I regret the way I left. I regret bits and pieces of how it happened and it got nasty. It was sad the way it happened."

"What is true is that when I knew of Liverpool's interest and that they had put a bid in, I did say to the club it would be my wish if they could negotiate a fee for me to move on."

"Not for one second did I say I wouldn't play for the club again. I'm man enough to say it was my choice and my decision for me to move on."

Lallana missed Liverpool's 2-1 victory on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, and claimed his absence may have been a "blessing in disguise" due to his emotional attachment to Southampton where he spent 12 years.

"It's still not sunk in that I'm going to be playing against Southampton," he added.

"I think it was a blessing in disguise that I was injured for the first game."

"Even being in the crowd watching that day I just felt really emotional so to have been out there would have been way too soon."

"The rawness of it all has got easier over the past six months."

"I've got huge respect for the club; part of me doesn't even know how I'm going to play. It's all a bit surreal."

"I just have to be professional and play well for Liverpool. I've got too much respect to celebrate [if he scores]."