As Liverpool continue to be linked with a move for Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, a Reds youngster, a ‘close friend’ of the England international, has explained why he is the ‘complete’ midfielder.
Bellingham is expected to be Liverpool’s main transfer target next year as the Reds look to inject some youth into their midfield.
His value continues to rise, with the 19-year-old scoring in Dortmund’s Champions League encounter with Man City earlier this week.
Having played for Bellingham in England’s youth ranks, Liverpool academy prospect James Balagizi knows all about the talent of a player who looks set to spark a transfer tug-of-war between Europe’s top clubs. next year.
Speaking to Echo’s Keifer MacDonald, Balagizi, who is impressing on loan with Crawley Town this season, explained how he is drawing inspiration from Bellingham.
“It’s so complete, it’s crazy,” he said.
“He inspires others to go out there and maximize our potential and he’s doing it on the biggest stage right now. He is very inspiring to me because that is where I want to be in the future as well.
“It just makes you think that it is possible, it is possible to achieve what you dreamed of as a child. There are people I know doing it, so why shouldn’t I be out there doing it?
“If I can keep my head down and keep working hard every day, hopefully one day I’ll get my chance and go from there.”
Balagizi, 18, who joined Liverpool’s academy ranks at the age of six, has three goals in 10 appearances from midfield for Crawley this season, including a goal to help the League side Two to knock Fulham out of the League Cup last month.
After shining for Liverpool’s under-23 side last season, he has so far adapted well to senior football under the guidance of manager Kevin Betsy, whom he knows well from the England youth team.
Balagizi has aspirations of eventually breaking into the established first team at Anfield, naming Thiago among the three players who captivated him while training with Jurgen Klopp’s side in the past.
“I used to watch videos of Thiago,” he continued.
“I used to watch him when he was at Bayern Munich, but now that I think I can see what he is doing in real life, I cannot put into words how good it is to learn up close.
“It’s so hard to pass Virgil van Dijk that his passing range is just ridiculous,” he adds. “Like the passes from him, how is he able to get them in the money every time?
“Thiago and Fabinho too, you try to put pressure on them and they beat you with a shoulder strike or a spin. Is incredible.”
Balagizi and Bellingham in the same midfield for Liverpool in years to come? That is her dream.
