Grujic father steps in to stop Liverpool transfer

Mark Holmes
Marko Grujic (left): Will sign for Liverpool but stay at Red Star on loan

Marko Grujic (left): Will sign for Liverpool but stay at Red Star on loan

Marko Grujic’s father will not allow the Red Star Belgrade midfielder to join Liverpool as he believes it too early for the 19-year-old to move to the Premier League.

It had been widely reported that Grujic was set to sign for Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window, but the player himself played down the speculation on Tuesday, denying that a deal was already done.

Now Grujic’s father has ruled out a transfer altogether in the near future.

“I will not let them ruin my child,” Grujic Snr is quoted as telling Serbian paper Blic.

“His passport is with me and I pronounce that Marko is not going anywhere.

“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.”

Red Star pressuring Grujic to move

Red Star are keen to sell Grujic to Liverpool to generate funds, but Grujic Snr has warned the club to stop pressuring his son to move.

“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 him ten times a day they convinced him [Marko] to sign a new 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.

“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!

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

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