Red Star Belgrade starlet Marko Grujic’s move to Anfield appears all but sealed following an official statement by the Serbian outfit. However, the father of the prospective Liverpool FC midfielder is anything but impressed by the move.
The teenage midfielder has been one of the key players in the Red Star’s march to the title. However, the financial problems at the Serbian outfit means the Serbian U20 World Cup winner has been shipped off to Anfield in a 5.1m GBP deal as per reports in BBC.
Liverpool FC sign Grujic
The Serbian outfit confirmed the move in a statement earlier in the day with Liverpool FC assistant manager of Serbian origin, Zeljko Buvac, speaking on behalf of the club
As per reports in BBC, the Reds beat off competition from Anderlecht and Stuttgart to complete the deal.
“The club’s board considered the offers and unanimously accepted Liverpool’s offer to pay the money immediately,” read Red Star’s official statement.
It continued: “Red Star sincerely want Marko Grujic to carry on playing in the club’s kit for the next 10 years but the financial situation of our club dictates the adoption of a different decision.”
Red Star Belgrade claim they have accepted a bid from #LFC for midfielder Marko Grujic. https://t.co/JRF4XsSJeApic.twitter.com/s1t7nstNv0
a BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 23, 2015
Grujic’s dad unimpressed
The Serb’s father, however, was unimpressed by the move to accept a bid from an English side. He was afraid about how his fellow countrymen had struggled following moves early on in their career.
a None of our younger (Serbian) players survived in the Premier League,a he was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo.
a Bojan Djordjic, Milos Veljkovic, Adem Ljajic, Zoran Tosic, Lazar Markovic, Danilo Pantica Do you need me to continue to list them? None of them had the opportunity to prove themselves.
a The second is the story with (Branislav) Ivanovic and (Nemanja) Vidic. They came as experienced players.
a There are far better deals than Liverpoola s, and clubs will wait until the summer. Stuttgart eventually withdrew their offer and will return in May. Liverpool will (in the end) offer more money, just leta s clinch the title with Red Star.
a For Marko there is pressure in the dressing room, because some players are convinced their payments depend exclusively on transfer sales.a
Who is Grujic?
The Serb has played 22 times this season for Red Star, and has scored 5 goals. He was one of the star players for the Serbian team on their march to the U20 World Cup title earlier in the summer.
The box to box midfielder has been compared to French star Paul Pogba, and his style of play is all action like former Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard.
While he does not really have the leadership traits of the former Liverpool FC captain, if he can prove to be half the player that the legendary Merseysider was, it will be 5m GBP well-spent for the Reds.
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