Bobby Duncan is now a Fiorentina player, but the manner in which he joined the Italians was sadly very controversial…
His agent Saif Rubie went public and lashed out at Liverpool, director of football Michael Edwards and seemingly anybody else in his way – completely ruining his reputation in the process.
The manner in which he weaponised mental health in order to force a transfer for his teenage client was especially unsavoury, but Rubie would argue he did what had to be done and LFC were forced to sell.
Italian agent Vincenzo Morabito helped transition the deal between Liverpool and Fiorentina once it was decided Duncan had no Anfield future – and has made some interesting revelations on it.
According to Morabito, Duncan was searching for an exit as early as April, before he won the FA Youth Cup, but turned down the advances of Manchester United due to – wait for it – his Liverpool loyalty.
‘It all started in April. Saif contacted me and we set to work to find new accommodation for Bobby,’ he said, reported in the Mail. ‘The boy did not want to betray Liverpool and said no to United who insisted so much with him.
‘He could have gone to Lazio but relations with Liverpool are very bad and nothing was done.
‘(Lazio manager) Simone Inzaghi would have made him grow a lot and I hope he is like that with (Fiorentina boss) Vincenzo Montella.’
Duncan is a huge Liverpool fan, a scouser and someone who simply wanted a bit too much a bit too soon, for us.
We hope he enjoys his time in Italy, but the fact Fiorentina refused to list him as a first-teamer suggests he won’t be getting minutes any time in the immediate future.
Still, we’re rather he’s trying his luck in Serie A than at Old Trafford.