Liverpool target Marko Grujic has passport stolen by dad to stop transfer

8 years ago

Liverpool target Marko Grujic has passport stolen by dad to stop transfer

MARKO Grujic could have his big move to Liverpool ruined — by his dad.

The Serbian’s father Goran claimed a move to Anfield would ‘ruin’ his career and says he will keep the Red Star Belgrade midfielder’s passport to prevent him from going.

And Goran has blamed Serbian giants Red Star for trying to force a Grujic, 19, into a $10.6 million move to the Reds due to financial worries.

Grujic senior knows what he’s talking about too — he’s a Belgrade football journalist.

He told Serb paper Blic: “I will not let them ruin my child!

“The people who run the club (Red Star) have all turned their backs, others are penniless and there’s been a downturn in club sales. That is why we are being pressured.

“After calling ten times a day they convinced him (Marko) to sign a contract.

“For him there is also pressure in the locker room, because some players are convinced that their payments depend exclusively from club sales.

“We chatted with people from Udinese, as well as representatives from Anderlecht. But there were stories about the sale. Then came the story with Liverpool.”

Despite several disappointing results in recent seasons, Liverpool remains a football powerhouse with some of the best training facilities in sport.

However, papa Grujic reckons they don’t have his son’s best interests at heart.

He’s so convinced it’s a bad move for his son, he’s refusing to let him go.

After playing a key part in the Serbian team that won the U20s World Cup this year, big things are expected of the rising star.

His son is now old enough to make his own decisions, but he can’t fly to England without a passport.

“His passport is with me, and I pronounce that Marko is not going anywhere,” papa Grujic said.

“He became champion of the world, is on track to win the title with the red-whites, it is logical that his price per year will get even bigger year on year.

“But many people are in a hurry to collect the transfer. I know that the coach Miodrag Bozovic respects my child. Leave the kid alone!

“Liverpool will just offer more money, just let’s clinch the title with Red Star.

“None of our younger (Serbian) 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.

“Know your child. I know he has the quality to be able to play in England, but it’s not league for him now.”

That’s not what the player himself thinks.

“I would like to go and play in England. I love the atmosphere in the stadium, and how the fans are close to the pitch, and how that energy transfers to the players,” Grujic said in October.

To clear up the matter about his lost passport, the teenager even posted a quick picture of himself at the airport in Montenegro, claiming he is going on holidays.