Firmino's dark secret revealed before leaving Liverpool

The end of an era came with Roberto Firmino's farewell to Anfield. In eight years at Liverpool, the Brazilian striker won seven trophies under Jürgen Klopp, who had wanted him ever since he saw him in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim. Bobby, at the start of the year, confirmed to the German coach that he would not renew, despite the attempts that were made for him.

Firmino's story is worthy of the Hollywood movie, as Roberto was born in Trapiche da Barra, a poor neighbourhood wedged between a polluted lake and a favela devoid of basic necessities. According to the BBC, Firmino found in football the opportunity to get out of that hell and help his family, especially his mother.

In an interview with the BBC, Bruno Barbosa, a close friend of Bobby's, revealed how difficult the former Pool striker's childhood was. "He was always violent here (Alagoas) and Roberto's mother was very protective of him. He was crazy about football, but it was difficult to let him out, so he would jump over the wall to come and play with us in the street. Once he fell and had to get stitches in his knee. He still has the scar," said Firmino, who is now a major businessman in the area.

The hell Firmino went through, the gates to football heaven opened for him

For Firmino, nothing was impossible, and when he was able to sign for Figueirense, Booby put much of his salary towards his mother Mariana Cicera and father Jose Cordeiro, who before the former Anfield legend shone in Europe, was a street vendor. With his earnings in Germany and England, Bobby's parents never went back to work, as their son took care of them.