Adebayo Akinfenwa will be aiming to retain his title as the strongest player on FIFA when the latest version of EA Sports’ hugely popular video game franchise is released later this month.The 35-year-old is still plying his trade in the Football League with Wycombe Wanderers, which means he’ll have his own bronze FIFA card once again.It’s safe to assume that some of his stats will be on the low side - such as his shooting, dribbling and, in particular, his pace - but that’s not why FIFA players snap the big man up.His physical stats are off the scale, hence why he goes by the nickname “The Beast” and tends to wear “Beast Mode” tops when away from the pitch.Akinfenwa has made the most of his FIFA popularity and why not? Fair play to the guy.
Akinfenwa: Klopp should come and get me!
Although Akinfenwa is a lower-league journeyman, there’s one Premier League club that he has always been desperate to play for.
The Islington-born striker grew up supporting Liverpool and idolising John Barnes - and he still hasn’t given up on his dream of pulling on the famous red shirt.
"I think we’re one striker away, I think we’ll be immense for the first half of the season and blow up a bit in the second half but I think we’ll challenge,” he told Squawka, per the Liverpool Echo. "Klopp should come and get me!
"I need pace around me and they have obscene pace up front with [Sadio] Mane, [Roberto] Firmino, [Mohamed] Salah.
"If you put me in there and get some crosses in the box I’d score goals."
"My manager [Gareth Ainsworth] knows I love Liverpool and if they ever came calling he’d have no problems with letting me go."
Wycombe to Klopp: 'Do one!'
Wycombe sent out a cheeky tweet in response to Akinfenwa’s quotes, warning Klopp that he can “do one” if he wanted to sign the veteran centre-forward.
Akinfenwa's reaction to Liverpool's potential FIFA 18 line-up
Bleacher Report, meanwhile, mocked up an image showing how Liverpool’s FIFA 18 attack might look with Akinfenwa leading the line.
The image shows Akinfenwa as the focal point in attack, with Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah behind him. Tasty.
Reacting to this, Akinfenwa posted an amusing post on Instagram and Twitter.
“Ooooooooooo Dangerous,” he wrote. “Ps yo @easportsfifa I don't look out of place do I "cough cough" âºï¸âºï¸âºï¸ #BMO #BeastMode #Bants #Fifa18 #FUT #Power&Pace ð¸ curtesy @brfootball”
This prompted some great replies from Liverpool fans...
Come on, Jurgen, make the big man’s dreams come true.