After a back and forth battle between his father and Red Star Belgrade, highly rated Serbian youngster Marko Grujic finally put pen to paper on his dream move to Liverpool this January transfer window.
The attacking midfielder was recently named on La Gazaetta dello Sport's top 50 players under the age of 20 in World football, and he also appears to have a sensible head on his shoulders after he explained to a Serbian journalist why he won't be looking to take his favourite shirt number, #8, when he does arrive at Anfield having been loaned back to Red Star for the rest of this season.
Last worn by Steven Gerrard, the #8 shirt clearly means a lot to Liverpool fans, so Grujic will find an alternative way to wear 8 on his back as he attempt to work his way up to the coveted shirt number:
Grujic "No one could bear the weight of Gerrard's No 8! Not even players from Real. I'll wear 35 or 88. Or something related to no 8." #LFC
— Vlastimir Stevanovic (@vlstastevanovic) January 30, 2016
Grujic "I have fulfilled my boyhood dream of playing for Liverpool!" #LFC
— Vlastimir Stevanovic (@vlstastevanovic) January 30, 2016
As ridiculous as it seems, giving a number with a bit of history behind it to a young player does seem to bring additional pressure, so fair play to the lad for wanting to earn it.
We've seen Memphis Depay struggle under the weight of the Manchester United #7 shirt this season, so Liverpool fans will be no doubt pleased with this decision, even if the thought of getting 'Grujic 88' on the back of a shirt seems off-putting initially.
via Metro.co.uk
