As Gini Wijnaldum did the media rounds both before and after what is likely to be his final Liverpool appearance on Sunday, one thing became abundantly clear.
The Dutchman really doesn’t want to leave Anfield.
"I'm fighting against tears right now," he told Sky Sports after the final whistle against Crystal Palace. "The people in Liverpool have shown me love during the five years.
"I will miss them, you know? I hope to have played many more years for the club but unfortunately things went different.
"I would have loved to remain a Liverpool player for many more years, but unfortunately things went different. I have to start a new adventure. I didn't sign somewhere else.
"I knew I went to a big club. I remember that I was sitting in the living room and the manager said when I come to Liverpool we would win prizes. I am happy it went that way. It would have been really painful to leave the club without any.
"Since I've joined the fans have sung my name. Week-in, week-out they saw I was giving 100% to give everything for this club. That's what the supporters want to see and that's what they appreciate from me. It is something I'm going to miss."
He is not alone. The midfielder is a modern club legend and it is only now, once the death knell has tolled on his Liverpool career, has the reality of what the Reds bidding farewell to truly emerged.
It is telling that Jurgen Klopp doesn’t want to lose him, his team-mates don’t want to lose him and Liverpool fans don’t want to lose him either.
The Reds aren’t just saying goodbye to a great player but also a loyal servant and a true friend.
As such it is perhaps no surprise that the Dutchman appears to still be clinging onto the possibility of an 11th hour contract extension.
"As it looks right now, it is (goodbye). The club and I didn't agree to a new contract.
"If you look at the facts, from the first of July my contract is over.
"The situation is right now that on July 1 I am not a Liverpool player. We will see what I will do in the next couple of weeks. I will rest a little bit then go to the national team.”
As the tributes came flooding in from Klopp and his team-mates, not even the Reds’ media department were willing to close the door fully as they posted noncommittally when addressing his potential exit.
So how has it come to this? After 237 appearances in five years, how is an English, European and World champion being allowed to begrudgingly walk away from Anfield for free?
Well, as Wijnaldum says, he has been unable to agree a new contract with the club. Negotiations broke down months ago with some reports suggesting financial terms, others suggesting the length of a deal as the reason why one could not be agreed.
As one of Klopp's most trusted players, season after season the midfielder found himself as one of the club's most-used stars. Meanwhile, despite Premier League and Champions League glory, an acceptable contract offer was not forthcoming despite the majority of his team-mates, one-by-one, being offered improved and extended deals.
In a cryptic farewell to supporters, the midfielder promised to one day explain why he is on the verge of becoming a free agent.
“I will have a look at my story and how everything went. The fans deserve to know the story behind it.”
Free to sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs since January 1, Wijnaldum has been linked with the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
But despite such speculation, he is yet to sign terms with any interested party.
Such a position is in complete contrast to Emre Can’s own Anfield departure back in 2018 with it a worst-kept secret that he would be signing for Juventus upon leaving Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has already revealed that his own departing free agent, Sergio Aguero, is set to join Barcelona following the expiration of his contract at Man City.
Wijnaldum’s agent’s public plea to Bayern earlier this month perhaps suggests his future remains up in the air and could even signify that suitable offers for his services have still not been forthcoming, though he has since been sighted in Barcelona ahead of discussing a potential deal.
The La Liga giants had been expected to sign the midfielder with Ronald Koeman keen to reunite with the Netherlands star and first confirming interest last summer, but later admitting he would have to wait until the end of the 30-year-old’s contract.
Of course, Barcelona’s financial problems are well-known but they are not alone with the majority of clubs across the continent still treading cautiously as they navigate the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Could this be one reason why Wijnaldum’s future is yet to be determined?
Clubs are likely to make their summer moves later rather than earlier this year after all.
With EURO 2020 on the horizon and the midfielder set to captain the Netherlands in the absence of the injured Virgil van Dijk, it would be a surprise to see terms agreed with any interested party the closer we edge to the start of this summer’s European Championships.
As such, Wijnaldum could well find himself officially a free agent before being able to decide upon his next move if his future is not decided quickly.
Yet any delay could even open the door to a swift Liverpool reunion.
Depending on his forthcoming offers, a compromise on the initial terms suggested by the Reds is not beyond the realm of possibility considering the unstable state of the transfer market.
And it would not be the first time Liverpool had performed such a u-turn.
Back in 2010, Fabio Aurelio left the Reds after rejecting a new pay-as-you-play contract, only to be re-signed the following August by new manager Roy Hodgson.
"I was quite surprised when I found out he was fully fit and hadn't been offered a new contract, so I think it was a bit of an obvious thing to do,” the then-Reds boss said at the time.
“I said, 'Rather than move to another Barclays Premier League club, why don't you stay with us?'"
Considering Klopp’s own relationship with Wijnaldum, could a similar intervention be forthcoming?
“It is very emotional for me because I lose a friend and I will miss him but it is normal in football that these things happen,” the German said about the midfielder’s imminent departure.
“I’m really sure he will find a great place. Each club who is interested in him should call me and ask me, because then they would take him - definitely.
“I couldn’t be more positive about what he did here. He was incredible. He was not only always available, he played 90% of the time really, really good.
“Now it looks like the time is over but nobody can take our memories from us. We will share them forever
"I told him that after the game, and he sees it the same way.
“Goodbye would not be tough if the time you had together was not worth it. It’s really tough, because we had a great time together.”
It is obvious Klopp loathes to lose the midfielder. That is why he managed to retain the Dutchman’s services last summer despite the arrival of Thiago Alcantara.
Admittedly a last-gasp compromise with Wijnaldum is growing increasingly unlikely, with a potential exit only accelerated by talks being held with Barcelona.
But his affection for Liverpool and reluctance to fully close the door on staying shows that, until he signs on the dotted line elsewhere, there still remains a chance.
It wouldn’t be the first time he has played a starring role in an unlikely comeback during his time on Merseyside.
Never say never.
