Days after his agent’s desperate attempt to drive a wedge between his client and Liverpool, Bobby Duncan has completed a permanent switch to Fiorentina.
Duncan’s representative, Saif Rubie, was widely criticised for a statement released on social media on Wednesday, claiming the club were “mentally bullying” the 18-year-old.
Liverpool dismissed Rubie’s accusations as “unfounded,” but claims Duncan was suffering with mental health issues were taken seriously, and Jurgen Klopp told reporters the Reds “really care about our young players.”
The club had rejected loan offers from Nordsjaelland and Fiorentina ahead of Rubie’s statement, with the terms of the latter not considered realistic—with the Serie A side including an option to buy based on first-team appearances.
Now, however, Liverpool have agreed a permanent deal with Fiorentina worth around £1.8 million, and the youngster is believed to have signed a three-year contract.
The move also includes a 20 percent sell-on clause for Duncan’s boyhood club, which protects the Reds in case the striker reaches his obvious potential.
Duncan scored 30 goals and laid on a further 16 assists in 43 appearances for the academy in 2018/19, after a £200,00 move from Man City last summer.
The teenager had forced through his City exit, sitting out an entire season in a bid to leave, which was certainly foreboding given the circumstances surrounding his departure from Liverpool.
The Reds currently have Rhian Brewster as their next in line from academy to first team, while there are high hopes for Layton Stewart in the under-18s and Paul Glatzel is set to join Klopp’s squad when he returns from injury.
Duncan could have carved out a bright future at Anfield, but his desire for immediate first-team football has prompted a second high-profile move in two years.
All the best, Bobby.
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