Liverpool Transfer News: 'Next Lionel Messi' Zak Gilsenan Reportedly Joins
An 11-year-old starlet hailed as the “Next Lionel Messi” has reportedly opted to join Liverpool ahead of a clutch of the Premier League’s most illustrious names.
That young player is Zak Gilsenan, who, according to Jack Wilson of the Daily Star, has chosen to further his, admittedly brief, footballing education on Merseyside after his family decided to move to England.
Gilsenan, who was born in Ireland and grew up in Australia, enjoyed two impressive years at Barcelona’s revered La Masia academy, impressing as a forward, midfielder and a defender for the Blaugrana’s youth teams. The youngster could eventually go on to play for England, as well as either the countries of his birth and upbringing.
Here’s a look at why, despite his tender years, Gilsenan is potentially such an exciting acquisition for Liverpool supporters:
Should he join, Gilsenan will have access to the state-of-the-art facilities that the Reds boast at their Kirkby academy. While he has followed in the footsteps of the likes of Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi up until this point in his career, now he’ll be hoping to emulate Reds legends like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, players who were distinguished academy graduates before going on to become club icons.
Gilsenan’s reported capture ahead of the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal is a testament to the fine the work Liverpool's academy is undertaking under the tutelage of Alex Inglethorpe, and while it’s been a disappointing season for the Reds' first team on the field, there have been some indications that brighter days may be on the horizon.
The crown jewel of the club’s current young crop is Jordan Rossiter, and with Gerrard fast approaching the twilight of his career, many have hailed the Liverpool-born midfielder as the natural heir to the inspirational skipper:
Carragher thinks the Liverpool setup deserves great credit for expediting the development of young, local talents like Rossiter:
Gilsenan will have to eventually adapt to the demands that any young player encounters when joining up with a club of Liverpool’s immense stature. Jordan Henderson, who joined the Reds when he was just 20 years old, recently shared how difficult it can be for young talents to cope at a setting like Anfield, per ESPN:
"It is a shock, no matter what age you are, really. You’ve go to try and adapt to it the best you can.
It’s up to the likes of me, the likes of Stevie (Gerrard) and the people that have been here longer to help them settle in.
"
While being associated with the genial Messi will eventually bring its own pressures for Gilsenan, at 11 years old he’s someone that will pay little attention to that. Like any football-mad kid, he’ll just want to play the game as much as possible and will surely relish his chance at a distinguished football institution.
Looking at his silky dribbling and exceptional balance it’s easy to see why there are plenty touting this young man for great things, but there is still plenty that can curtail a player’s development at this early stage. Nonetheless, if he can continue to progress with comparable distinction throughout the Reds’ academy ranks, Gilsenan is a player we’ll surely be hearing a lot more about in the future.
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