RSC Anderlecht youth star Jérémy Doku has opened up on how current Rangers FC manager Steven Gerrard showed him videos of himself in an attempt to convince him to join Liverpool some years back.
The Belgian-born Ghanaian winger who is currently being chased by Ghana coach CK Akonnor to represent the four-time African Champions at the international level has been on the radar of English Champions Liverpool FC and Newcastle United in the summer transfer window.
Speaking in an interview with Sport/ Foot Magazine, the 18-year old winger revealed that Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp expressed interest in him and was ready to sign him when he visited the club three years ago.
Below is Doku’s Q&A interview with the Sports Magazine:
Now that you can talk, you are going to give your version of your flirtation with Liverpool … what are you going to keep as fond memories of your visit there?
DOKU: It was a bit crazy, though. I was only fifteen, Liverpool invited me with my parents. They showed me around. The stadium, the training complex. And we were received by the cream. Sadio Mané came to talk to me, Jürgen Klopp was also interested in me.
Don’t you think it was calculated, a way of impressing yourself and putting pressure on you to accept the offer?
DOKU: It’s very possible. As if by chance, we went to the training center precisely when the players were eating. We were shown into the restaurant, so everyone was there. Steven Gerrard pulled me aside and showed me videos … of me. They had lots of pictures. He commented on them to me: what you’re doing there, we really like. And other style stuff. If I had accepted the offer, I would have had him as a youth coach. For a while, with my parents, we talked about Chelsea. The people of Liverpool immediately ticked off, they probably thought I was in contact with Chelsea. But no, it’s the first name of one of my sisters and we were just talking about her.
And finally, you decided not to leave Anderlecht.
DOKU: If I had accepted their offer, I might be in the first team now. Or maybe not. What I do know is that I am now playing with Anderlecht. People in my neighborhood would advise me to go there, they would tell me that I might never have such an opportunity again. I see things differently. If Liverpool want me when I’m fifteen and confirm with the pros, Liverpool will get back to me later. There were other clubs interested. We also visited the Arsenal and Ajax facilities. My parents encouraged me to leave. It was I who made the decision to stay. I was not ready. I wanted to keep having fun, keep playing with my friends.
