Ryan Babel reveals Liverpool failed to support him following 2007 move from Ajax leaving him 'anxious' and 'unhappy'

Babel joined Liverpool from Ajax for £11.5 million ($14m) in 2007 but he arguably never fulfilled his potential at the Reds - scoring just 22 goals in 146 games. Now, the 37-year-old has spoken about his "tough" start at the Merseyside outfit, how then-manager Rafael Benitez allegedly gave him the cold shoulder, and why it didn't work out.

He told The Athletic: “It was a little bit disappointing for myself because when I eventually chose Liverpool, I was promised to get time and was told they would really work with me. But from day one, I was on my own, left to figure stuff out myself and that was very tough.

“I was 20 years of age, it was my first time living abroad, the first time living by myself because I was still at my parents’ home in Holland. So it was a lot of new challenges that I had to deal with at once. That made it very difficult.

“I had times where I felt unhappy, not completely myself or was anxious. I think now we live in an era where you want to support a player who is vulnerable. I came from a time when showing weakness was unacceptable. You would have been written off by some.”

The fact that Babel left for 1899 Hoffenheim in 2011 for £8m ($10m) proves that it was something of an underwhelming signing. However, it could, potentially, have been a better spell had the former Dutch international been given the support he needed.

Babel, who went onto play 69 times for the Netherlands and had spells with Ajax, Besiktas, Fulham, Galatasaray and more, retired from football last November. He intends to go into management one day, but not yet.