Sepp van den Berg rejected Arne Slot plea to remain at Liverpool
Brentford defender Sepp van den Berg has revealed he rejected a plea from manager Arne Slot to remain at Liverpool after enduring severe mental health struggles on Merseyside.
The 24-year-old is expected to return to Anfield this Sunday to face his former employers in the Premier League.
He originally joined the Reds from Dutch side PEC Zwolle in 2019 as a highly-rated teenager.
However, the centre-back made just four cup appearances before being relegated to the reserve squad.
Struggling with life abroad
The Dutchman has opened up about the extreme loneliness he experienced while living alone in a new country.
He admitted the mental toll became so overwhelming that he often drove home from the training ground in tears.
“I was going home crying at some points and then not speaking to anyone,” the defender admitted.
“I had no confidence and that really affected me as a footballer.”
A familiar face brings fresh doubt
The young prospect eventually found regular first-team football through a series of loan moves across Europe.
Spells at Preston North End, Schalke and Mainz provided valuable experience, despite him facing challenges with injuries and relegation battles.
His fortunes appeared to change when Slot was appointed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor ahead of the summer.
The new Liverpool boss had actually managed the young defender during his first coaching role with PEC Zwolle’s under-13s.
Rejecting a second chance
“It was a little bit awkward, coming from the same hometown, he’d coached me when I was a kid and now he’s the guy at Liverpool,” he recalled.
Slot initiated talks with the player regarding his pre-season preparations and future at the club.
However, the former Eredivisie starlet had already decided his future lay away from Anfield.
“In my own head, I was thinking, ‘Yeah, I’m ready but hopefully I’m not even coming back for pre-season,’ because I wanted to leave,” he stated.
Finding a new home in London
The stopper ultimately secured a permanent transfer to Brentford in August 2024 for a fee that could reach £25m.
Reflecting on his difficult introduction to English football, he urged caution for other youth prospects moving abroad.
“Looking back, if someone had taken care of me as a young player, it would have helped me, for sure,” he concluded.
“For young guys going abroad, going to big clubs, I’d say to parents: ‘Be careful, make sure the kid is OK.’”