Bradley Barcola reveals 'biggest' Liverpool ambition after completing £123m transfer

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He has come to conquer."It's a great pride to be able to play for Liverpool. I'm very happy," Barcola told club media, a quiet intensity in his voice after months of tense, exhaustive negotiations between Merseyside and Paris.

It is to do that and to stay in this team in the long term—that's why I signed a long contract and I hope I can do it."For a club that has spent the summer recalibrating following the long era-defining departure of Mohamed Salah, this is the ultimate statement of intent. Barcola joins an exclusive club: he becomes only the second player in the 21st century to play for the winning side in a UEFA Champions League final and join Liverpool in the same calendar year, following Thiago Alcântara in 2020.

Having experienced the sheer, suffocating intensity of Anfield first-hand as an opposition player during his Champions League exploits, Barcola admitted that the atmosphere alone made his decision academic."I had the chance to play twice in this stadium and I saw the atmosphere and how the fans were behind the Liverpool players," he reflected. "When I knew about Liverpool's interest in me, I didn't ask questions and I knew it was a very big club for me."While questions will inevitably be asked about how quickly a 23-year-old can adapt to the relentless, bone-crunching physical demands of the Premier League, club captain Virgil van Dijk offered a characteristically cool assessment when asked about the club's new recruit following the gritty 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest."He's a good player; that's the only thing I can say," Van Dijk noted in the mixed zone, though the understated verdict does little to mask the palpable excitement buzzing through the corridors of Kirkby.Iraola has made no secret throughout the summer of his desire to inject ruthless dynamism into the wide areas.