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FootballCody Gakpo: Dutch World Cup Hero Reveals His Love for Togo
- Cody Gakpo has explained his love for Togo despite his representing the Netherlands
- The 23-year-old forward joined Liverpool on the back of a sublime World Cup outing
- He could line up for his new club against Brentford after completing his paperwork
Cody Gakpo has disclosed his love affair with Togo, despite representing the Netherlands at the national team level.
Gakpo, who recently joined Premier League side Liverpool, was born in Eindhoven to a Togolese father of Ghanaian lineage and a Dutch mother.
He was eligible to represent the Netherlands, Togo and Ghana, but chose to represent the European country.
Despite turning out for Holland, the 23-year-old World Cup breakout star revealed his unflinching love for the 'tiny' West African nation.
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“I don't follow the news in Togo closely. My father does,” the attacker told Voetbal via GOAL.
“Where he first watched everything on television, he now follows the news and various other programmes on Togolese television via the internet."
Gakpo described how he and his father watched Togo's national team matches together, and how he has collected several Togolese jerseys to display.
"I regularly wore one of his shirts, when I played football on the square in our neighbourhood as a child," he added.
When asked if he had considered representing Togo, the former PSV Eindhoven poster boy revealed the country's FA had not made an approach for his services.
“Personally, I have not had any contact [from Togo]. My choice of the Netherlands was not difficult. [Agent] Kees [Ploegsma Jr] made this known honestly and we have not heard anything since. Unfortunately, I don't speak the language."
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FootballWhat is next for Gakpo?
The highly-rated Dutch forward could be in line to make his Liverpool debut on Monday, January 2, against Brentford after the completion of his paperwork, per Mirror.
Meet Gakpo's stunning girlfriend
Sports Brief earlier reported on the Dutch star becoming the latest Liverpool player with a stunning WAG, after Gakpo sealed an Anfield move.
The forward, who has seen his profile rise impressively after the Qatar World Cup, will be joined by his stunning travel-loving partner Noa van der Bij.
Van der Bij has been at Gakpo’s side since his superb rise through the ranks at PSV, and is now set to reap from her boyfriend’s success as they prepare for life in the Premier League.