LIVERPOOL HAVE PLEDGED to seek a resolution with Bobby Duncan after describing allegations made against them by the teenage forward’s agent as “inaccurate” and “inflammatory”.
Duncan’s representative Saif Rubie claimed his client wants to leave the club and that Liverpool’s moves to block a transfer away has taken a toll on the 18-year-old’s wellbeing.
Rubie singled out Reds sporting director Michael Edwards for criticism and alleged the treatment of Duncan — who is Steven Gerrard’s cousin — showed “zero consideration” for the player’s mental health.
Liverpool have strongly refuted Rubie’s claims with a spokesperson stating: “Liverpool Football Club is aware of and disappointed by the unattributed comments and unfounded allegations that have been made in the media regarding one of our players.
As the interests of the player in question are not best served by either inaccurate speculation, inflammatory statements or public discourse, we will be making no further comment.
“We will, however, continue our efforts to work privately with the player to find resolution in the best interests of all involved.”
Duncan joined the Reds in August 2018 and, after scoring a crucial equaliser in Liverpool U18s’ victory over Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup final, he featured for Jurgen Klopp’s first-team in pre-season friendlies.
“There has been a lot of things said the last few weeks regarding Bobby Duncan’s future at Liverpool,” read Rubie’s statement, which was also shared — and later deleted — on Twitter by the youngster himself.
It was recognised that Bobby wasn’t happy at Liverpool for different reasons and Alex [Inglethorpe, Liverpool academy director] invited us to bring offers to the club for the exit of Bobby Duncan.
“We have been able to find clubs that were ready to take Bobby on a season-long loan with an option to buy for amounts of £1.5million upwards, which is a great return for the club on a player who will never play for the Liverpool first-team and who doesn’t want to be there.
“The club and Michael Edwards specifically made it clear that that kind of deal wouldn’t work.
“He [Duncan] has suffered some deep mental health issues with all the stress the club has put him under.”
Duncan was Liverpool U18s’ leading scorer in 2018-19, netting 32 goals in all competitions, but former Reds defender Jamie Carragher said success at a young age may have affected his expectations.
“I know Bobby and his family well, he’s young and at that age we all want everything right now,” Carragher tweeted in response to Rubie’s statement.
[He] played for the first team in pre-season, which is a great start, and he should try and develop this season and maybe make the bench in [the] Carabao Cup.
“That should be the advice you’re giving him.”
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Agents are ruining socer
@ClydaMan: agreed…this is the type of VERMIN that needs to be expunged from the landscape…
@ClydaMan: lost interest when the agent actually said he was interested in ” his client’s ” wellbeing….its a joke now ,the whole sad mess…football ruined by idiots who cant handke these parasites
This man was Berahino’s agent. He used the same “bullying/someone at the club has an issue with my client/ we just want to be happy” routine to agitate for a move for him for two years, and look what’s happened since: he’s gone from young free scoring Premier league prospect to a free transfer to a Belgian midtable club’s bench in his mid twenties.
Wise up, Duncan. He’ll ruin you too.
@James Doyle: is that where Berahino has disappeared to?
@Johnny 5: yep, Zulte Waregem.
So basically, agent wants him to leave, kid doesn’t get his way, stays in his room for days like a child. Gerrard should go round and sort him out. An embarrassment to the family, club and hard working young soccer players in general.
Mad how entitled some of these kids seem before even playing a senior game. He’s been very poorly advised.
Out and out Scouser, has it in his blood, hard to imagine he hasn’t been badly advised. Carragher is right, he should get his head down.
That Agent is an absolute Rat. If Bobby has any sense he’ll sack him. No doubt agent filling his head with ideas above his station. Does he think he’s entitled to first team football ahead of “that” Liverpool front 3? Will have to bide his time like Trent, Gomez etc had to.