It seemed that Jurgen Klopp was about to seal a move for Marko Grujic, with the Serbian star reportedly set for a medical ahead of a move to Anfield.
Unfortunately for the German, his plans were scuppered by the player’s father, who believed the move from Red Star Belgrade would “ruin” his son.
Now, thanks to Empire of the Kop, the full transcript of the player’s father’s comments can be seen.
It becomes immediately clear that his reason for attempting to block the move isn’t just to do with Liverpool potentially “ruining” his son. As well as this, he appears to be unhappy with those in charge of Red Star for pressurising his son into a move.
Also voicing his concerns that several other young Serbian footballers failed to be given a chance in the Premier League, it seems unlikely that Grujic will be Merseyside-bound any time soon.
Here’s the full transcript:
I won’t allow them to destroy my boy!
I’m speaking about people who are in charge of the club [Red Star Belgrade]. Everyone turned their back on them, as they’ve spent all the money the club has had, and they see a solution in Marko’s transfer. That’s why there’s so much pressure on him.
Ten times per day they are calling him by phone, urging him to sign a contract. There are stories in Serbian media, like ‘Gerrard’s No.8 is waiting for him’, or ‘Klopp called him by phone’, ‘millions here, millions there’. And there’s also pressure in (the) Red Star dressing room, as it seems that (people from the management) convinced players, who are waiting for their salaries, that their payments depend on Marko’s transfer.
I mean, which club is willing to pay £5.1m, and then to say ‘Look, kid, come when you want’? Nope, if Liverpool FC is seriously counting on him, they’ll tell him ‘Start of training camp in January on this day, at that hour, we’re expecting you’. And, what kind of combination is that?
The club is paying for him £5.1m, but then leave him on loan and that loan costs £730,000? Really, I’m starting to think I should call the police to tell them everything about this pressure. His passport is with me, and I pronounce that Marko is not going anywhere.
None of our younger players survived in the Premier League. Bojan Djordjic, Milos Veljkovic, Adem Ljajic, Zoran Tosic, Lazar Markovic, Danilo Pantic… Do you need me to continue to list them? None of them had the opportunity to prove themselves.
The second is the story with (Branislav) Ivanovic and (Nemanja) Vidic. They came as experienced players. I know he has the quality to be able to play in England , but it’s not league for him now.
