Liverpool starlet Yasser Larouci has surprised everyone.
The left-back looked to be pushing for a place in the first team next season but has taken matters into his own hand.
With Andy Robertson as the only full-time player in that position, things looked promising for the 19-year-old Algerian.
After making two first team appearances this season, the BBC has reported that Yasser Larouci will leave the club in order to push for more senior minutes somewhere else.
Mandeep Sanghera wrote that Leeds and Bretford are interested in the youngster, who has one year left on his contract.
This is a brave move from Larouci, who could have stayed at Liverpool for another year at least and trained under one of the greatest managers in the world – Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp’s reluctance to buy someone in his position clearly indicates that the German was ready to bring through an Academy graduate. Larouci did seem to be battling with Adam Lewis to be that man, although the former Le Havre man seemed to be in pole position.
In many ways, you have to respect the teenager for taking his career in his own hands like this. We’re seeing fewer players prepared to sit on the bench if they’re not playing – and fuelled by trailblazers like Jadon Sancho and Rabbi Matondo, they’re leaving top clubs.
Last season Rafa Camacho did something similar when he left for Sporting. He’s made 19 first team league appearances this season and played 117 Europa League minutes in an impressive debut campaign.
Nevertheless, Larouci is making a brave and surprising decision. Few would want to leave Klopp’s coaching, and the experience he would have gained from training with world champions is invaluable.
Liverpool must now wish him good luck and change their plan for next season. Could we see a first-team signing made?