MATURIN, VENEZUELA – OCTOBER 10: Lionel Messi of Argentina reacts through the FIFA World Cup 2026 South American Qualifier match between Venezuela and Argentina at Estadio Monumental de Maturin on October 10, 2024 in Maturin, Venezuela. (Picture by Edilzon Gamez/Getty Pictures)
A dependable switch reporter has claimed that Liverpool are amongst a number of elite European golf equipment pursuing a teenage wonderkid who’s already earned comparisons to a sure Lionel Messi.
Ever for the reason that Argentine icon started to ascertain himself at Barcelona within the 2000s, a plethora of prodigious kids have been burdened with nicknames involving the present Inter Miami star, a lot of whom finally did not reside as much as that illustrious billing.
That nonetheless doesn’t appear to have deterred the Reds from taking an curiosity in Pink Star Belgrade attacking midfielder/ahead Andrija Maksimovic, who earned that well-known nickname because of a childhood likeness to Alexis Mac Allister’s worldwide teammate.
Liverpool ‘monitoring’ Andrija Maksimovic
On Monday evening, Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg took to X to share the information that Liverpool are ‘monitoring’ the 17-year-old, who’s additionally the topic of admiring glances from Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Manchester Metropolis.
{The teenager}’s contract within the Serbian capital runs to 2027, together with his membership prone to demand not less than €15m (£12.5m) in the event that they’re to half with him.
🚨⚫️🟡 Excl | Borussia Dortmund is interested by signing Serbian supertalent Andrija #Maksimovic subsequent summer time ✔️
A number of high golf equipment (Juventus, ManCity, Liverpool) are additionally monitoring the state of affairs of the 17y/o offensive midfielder from Pink Star Belgrade.
Maksimovic’s contract at… pic.twitter.com/rSCHTGfEa8
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) October 14, 2024
Maksimovic has a few of Messi’s hallmarks
Born two weeks after Liverpool’s defeat to AC Milan within the 2007 Champions League last, Maksimovic remains to be within the infancy of his profession, having made simply seven appearances up to now for Pink Star’s first group, though he had a formidable scoring return of 29 objectives in 26 video games for his or her under-17 aspect (Transfermarkt).
He was additionally entrusted with a senior Serbia debut on the weekend, coming off the bench of their 2-0 win over Switzerland, and he’s already displayed a powerful vary of standout attributes.
As highlighted by Jacek Kulig for Soccer Expertise Scout, the 17-year-old is a ‘extremely artistic’ quantity 10 who’s ‘extraordinarily elegant’ within the dribble and possesses a ‘very excessive soccer IQ’, together with an ‘wonderful first contact’ and above-average composure in tight areas.
These are all traits which have been related to Messi all through his profession, and though Maksimovic must go some option to even coming near replicating the Argentine’s achievements, we are able to see why he’s been attracting curiosity from the likes of Liverpool.
He appears to be fairly an thrilling prospect, and it ought to be intriguing to see what progress he makes over the following few months, and whether or not he’d be prepared for a transfer to Anfield within the foreseeable future.
