Gerardo Bruna (Liverpool -> Blackpool)

Dubbed the new Lionel Messi, Gerardo Bruna has shunned signing professional forms with Real Madrid and opted to join Liverpool instead (similar fashion to how Cesc Fabregas joined Arsenal).
The 16 year old argentinian is half spanish and has an EU passport so he won't require a work permit to join Liverpool. The talented midfielder was very highly rated by Real Madrid and arrives with a big reputation.
He will probably be one of the few youth players who is capable of making the step up to the first team but it'll be another couple of years before we find out.

LINK

LINK

Reds capture youngster from Real



Another youngster has joined Liverpool’s growing band of teenage talent, and this one is being compared to Leonel Messi.

Sixteen-year-old Gerardo Bruna, born in Argentina but brought up in Spain, has now signed for Liverpool from Real Madrid. Madrid were powerless when Liverpool approached him to sign for them. Under UEFA rules a 16-year-old can sign for any club, regardless of which club might have been developing him throughout his teenage years. Real will get some compensation for the player, but are understandably devastated to lose a player with so much potential.

Reds boss Rafa Benítez has been determined to see the club go out and buy for the future, and to do this they are offering lucrative deals to youngsters. Compared to buying proven talent the amount is spent is relatively small, but enough to outbid clubs like Real.

Sounds very, very promising.  With the young talent that we have now, it gives me great confidence about our clubs future.

I'm excited! 

its funny how people can be dubbed the NEXT lionell messi.

When he's still so young...

Oh, and don't believe all the hype, if all the 'next (Insert quality player here)' players that have joined the club during Benitez and Houllier's reign (Cheyrou the 'next Zidane' anyone...?) we'd have.... alot of good players!

Having said that, I do admire Benitez for bringing in all these youngsters, and if two or three of 'em all come good and hit the first team with fireworks, there will be praise all around.

the futures bright... the futures red

Its not a good omen for us when youngsters are compared with great players.  Under Houllier alone we must have built many potential dream teams. 

I'll give everyone on the forum a tenner if he ever starts a game for the first team.



(This is not a binding legal agreement).

the futures bright... the futures red

You've lost me there but I like it! 

JD, I'll give you a tenner if he scores on his debut!

(again, not a binding legal agreement)

any video clip for this youngster???

(again, not a binding legal agreement)

Tight f**ker, at least JD's ducking out of an agreement that might end up costing him £40k

THIS IS COMPLETELY PLAGIARISED FROM   "MY ANFIELD"

Link added now, happy?

Tight f**ker, at least JD's ducking out of an agreement that might end up costing him £40k

 

Did I not mention I'd donate it towards the running costs of the website and forum instead?

This boy was baptised the new Messi - of the Bernabeu...

...and we have knicked him from under the nosses of the Real Madrid board... as he was not old enough to be under contract.

Well done Rafa - another one to guarantee glory years ahead (and a healthy bank balance for G&H to pay back some debt...!!)

How can he be called the "new messi" when the "old messi" is only 21? The press makes me laugh sometimes

"New" Messi and in the "Next" Messi (Argentian lad also...)

who's next...

the "Future Next New Messi"....

how about just "Bruna".... give the lad his own identity for his own style...
well done Raf... looking to the future

who's next...

the "Future Next New Messi"....

how about just "Bruna".... give the lad his own identity for his own style...
well done Raf... looking to the future

True, but i'm just telling you what the Spanish sporting press said

http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/real_madrid/es/desarrollo/1041239.html

http://www.joinfutbol.com/es/gerardo_bruna_el_liverpool_se_lleva_al_messi_del_madrid_4036.php

That was just a story of how clubs buy them young for a long term investment.

is he a striker or a different position?

True, but I'm just telling you what the Spanish sporting press said

I realise that, I wasnt having a go at anyone here...

its the press that over does it.....

I'm getting fed up with all these comparisons.

Most of these players that are compared at a young age never make it.  I remember getting excited (I was young) when Houllier said that Cheyrou is the next Zidane.

I also remember seeing the old McDonalds Adverts with a lad doing keepie-ups.  This guy was called Sonny Pike and he was with Ajax at the time, but was a big LFC fan.  Whatever happened to him?

Agreed. They all fail to live up to the hype. The next superstar will be a unique player with flair, speed, creativity and STRENGTH! Good to see that Rafa is building for the future now though.

Seeing as he was dubbed 'Madrid's Messi' it's approaching 2 years since he signed and there has been no sign of him breaking into the 1st team, surely if he was that good he would have been pushing for a place in the team to solve our wing problems

I've actually heard nothing of him!

Probably because he's only 16. He won't even hit his prime for another 4-8 years. I'd be shocked if anyone had heard of him...

He does alright in Football Manager.

I've heard his name being mentioned. I hope he is class and we just keeping him under wrap's

How can he be called the "new messi" when the "old messi" is only 21? The press makes me laugh sometimes

Exactly, I was thinking the same thing, silly if you ask me

well this is a building block for the future could be a star player if he lives up to promise. well done reds scouting system

I'm getting fed up with all these comparisons.

Most of these players that are compared at a young age never make it.  I remember getting excited (I was young) when Houllier said that Cheyrou is the next Zidane.

I also remember seeing the old McDonalds Adverts with a lad doing keepie-ups.  This guy was called Sonny Pike and he was with Ajax at the time, but was a big LFC fan.  Whatever happened to him?

I am not sure, but i have read somewhere that he changed his name and went to uni of dundee. Too much pressure

Can't believe I started this lad's thread...

But yeah I agree, if this lad is meant to be a 'new Messi' (stupid phrase by the way) he should have shown some signs of promise by now.

Probably because he's only 16.

He's 18 now as he was born 29/01/1991.

Was about 16 when he signed for us.

He's not been in the reserve team recently. Not sure if he's injured. Can't comment on him that much. Quite lightweight, good at taking free kicks and a decent dribbler.

I think pre-season will be the time to really make our assumptions, if he isn't included in any of the games then i don't think he will become as good as has been touted.

And it cant be down to age if he isn't in pre-season because Pacheco played in our pre-season last time at the age of 17.

I'll give everyone on the forum a tenner if he ever starts a game for the first team.

Well so far so good for you, but to be fair I would rather this kid does play for us sometime especially if he does fulfill his potential but is that going to happen? No its really not, but lets hope I have to take that back in the future though.

He`s been injured for most of the season.Any game he`s played in he`s looked really good.Himself,Dalle Valle and Eclestone should break into the 1st team in a few yrs.We`ve the best youth team in england right now.

He must have some promise, but to be compared to top players at this stage of his development is ridiculous. At 16, he's still got a lot of hurdles to clear before making it to the top.

I'll look this fella up on fifa
Then we can really judge him haha

Hasn't he suffered a bit with injury?

Well what can I say about this lad? Heard about him and I know hes from the reserves.

But got absolutely no clue about him!

Hasn't he suffered a bit with injury?

That's Francesco Duran that's had the bad spell with injuries. Bruna has done ok this year. Don't know why people expect him to be in the first team if we haven't seen Pacheco or Nemeth there yet. Huge potential but he needs strengthening up to play first team football.

Haven seen him play before but this boy being referred to the next Messi? wow im excited to see how he grows as a player. Maybe he will be Liverpool's Macheda

Don't know why people expect him to be in the first team if we haven't seen Pacheco or Nemeth there yet.

Because he has been at the club for not far off 2 years now and if he is meant to be the new Messi then seeing as he is already 18 i would have expected him to have at least made the  bench in the Carling Cup

Nemeth is 20 and he hasn't featured at all, so why expect an 18 year old to feature?

Nemeth is 20 and he hasn't featured at all, so why expect an 18 year old to feature?

Because he was hyped up as having a lot of ability and was dubbed the new Messi so therefore i expected to have at least seen him on the bench by now or at least played a part in the last Pre-season like Nemeth and Pacheco did.

Where as nobody had hyped Nemeth up when he signed.

Yeah, but had we snatched Nemeth from Real Madrid he would of, his hype came from the club he was at, not his actual ability.

Whose he gonna replace anyway?

In the Carling Cup, the likes Zhar and Spearing are going to be ahead of him at the moment.

As for the first team who would he replace, Gerrard, Kuyt, Riera?

Highly unlikely, I'd just concetrate on getting some games under his belt for the reserves.

He hasn't been given a squad number either the way Nemeth, Darby, Spearing and Plessis were at the start of the season. Still, got time on his side and if he's as good as he's hyped up to be then it shouldn't be too long before we see him in and around the squad.

He's a promising young player, but nothing super-special. Pacheco looks a fair bit ahead of him, but it's still early days for Bruna.

Ablett rates him, but as others have said, seems to struggle with the physical side of the game here. Plenty of time to adapt though.

GERARD O

Luv the name..........

Just want to hear it again.............

G-E-R-A-R-D- O          like    N-A-N-D-O


That lll do.

Too Much Information.

Put him in for Saturday Boss.

Yeah, but had we snatched Nemeth from Real Madrid he would of, his hype came from the club he was at, not his actual ability.

I think you are spot on there, I am not doubting our "new messi's" ability, and I have never seen him play, but if he was signed from, lets say Valrenga or Aalborg for that matter. Nobody would have named him new messi.
Most people gets impressed by the club whom the players is signed from then the player himself.

I think you are spot on there, I am not doubting our "new messi's" ability, and I have never seen him play, but if he was signed from, lets say Valrenga or Aalborg for that matter. Nobody would have named him new messi.
Most people gets impressed by the club whom the players is signed from then the player himself.

Good point that. Besides he still has alot of time to develop, I'm not saying much on the lad yet

Because he has been at the club for not far off 2 years now and if he is meant to be the new Messi then seeing as he is already 18 I would have expected him to have at least made the  bench in the Carling Cup

Insua and N'gog are the only young players Rafa has played more times then you havefingers on your hands. Bruna also plays in the same position as Kuyt so that would also lessen his chances of a start

He has looked impressive in the first half, he defo has talent.

Lets hope that he is as good as they say. He could be one for the future

generally speaking as someone who has signed up international stars for the rugby game, the saying "if your good enough then your old enough" is troo,then this lad must have revealed some qualities of admiration, otherwise the scouting system is shiite.

Because he was hyped up as having a lot of ability and was dubbed the new Messi so therefore I expected to have at least seen him on the bench by now or at least played a part in the last Pre-season like Nemeth and Pacheco did.

Where as nobody had hyped Nemeth up when he signed.

They were somebody else's words, not his. He didn't say himself he was 'Madrid's Messi' or big himself up in any way.

I think a few people have misunderstood what i am saying so to clear it up.

I have not said that he should be starting for the 1st team or even playing for the 1st team for that matter, if you look back you will see it has been making appearances in pre-season like Pacheco did and making the bench for the Carling Cup. After all San Jose made the bench against Chelsea last season.

And my second point, i have never in anyway implied that he has bigged himself up, i was merely saying that with this apparent ability he is going to have then i would have thought that we would have seen the odd glimpse of it by now like we did with other 18 year olds, i.e. Owen and Gerrard but as it happens we never even hear a word about him where the reserves are concerned.

I.e. Owen and Gerrard but as it happens we never even hear a word about him where the reserves are concerned.

I watch every reserve game and he's quite a tricky player. Similar to Pacheco. My concern at the moment is he is just a little bit lightweight. I know the likes of Owen and Fowler were small at his age but with him being a foreign import I think it'll take him and probably Pacheco a season or two when/if they break into the first team to get to grips with the muscle of the PL.

Bruna had a great game vs Tranmere.

Ya I was really impressed he came with a massive reputation from Real. Hopefully he can keep progressing just like Pacheco needs to improve his physical ability

Hows this boy getting on. Had high hopes for him. Is he injured or just being overshadowed by others like Suso?

Over shadowed unfortunately. Having a better season this year, but does not seem to have passion or drive for this club. I'd be surprised if he's here next year

He's done well recently, creative player, deserves a chance?

He's done well recently, creative player, deserves a chance?

Can be very good when he is in the mood for it. This year has been much better.
I remember Rodolfo taking him off, against Southampton I think, last year because of a lack of effort.
Credit due this year he seems to have upped his game

Yeah, I think he's gone for it this year, relised he's not gone long left to stake a claim. Stick in the first team squad before the end of the first season I would.

Yeah, I think he's gone for it this year, relised he's not gone long left to stake a claim. Stick in the first team squad before the end of the first season I would.

I'd nearly give Adjoran a run out first mate. I don't know, I think we have a lot of quality youngster and ones who have attitudes that deserve reward more than Bruna. Like you said I think Bruna has realised it's now or never for us.

I agree that others have worked harder but I think this lad has bags of ability. Adjoran's decent but Tom Ince should be prefferd over him I'd say.

I agree that others have worked harder but I think this lad has bags of ability. Adjoran's decent but Tom Ince should be prefferd over him I'd say.

Ince could be a very good option considering we need an answer on the left. He would certainly make runs all day for us, but without someone to put quality balls up there he'll end up caught offside and frustrated. We need a link up player, that's why I selected Adjoran. Could easily go for Suso or Silva either. Use them as the wide part of a front three.
At some point this season I would love to see Carroll and Suarez central as 4-2-3-1 with some of our youth as the wider attacking components. Suso, Silva, Ince could do that job

Ince may drift inside to much when played on the wing.

I'll give everyone on the forum a tenner if he ever starts a game for the first team.



(This is not a binding legal agreement).

Your still looking good on that bet.

Ince may drift inside to much when played on the wing.

Well you know there's alway Spearing to fall back on

Moved to Blackpool.

Topic moved to General Football thread.

Best of luck to him, never really saw much of him myself.

Never really seen much in him for breaking into the first team when I use to watch reserve games but best of luck to him. Could follow the same path as Adam Hammill and find his way to the Premiership.

Don't know how much we got from Blackpool for the lad but can't understand why this wasn't included in the Charlie Adam deal. 

If I am honest, always thought he was pretty useless. Good luck to the fella though.

Don't know how much we got from Blackpool for the lad but can't understand why this wasn't included in the Charlie Adam deal. 

I think a lot of people made money out of Charlie Adam. Ian Holloway is one of them, who gets a share of the fee we paid. I'm sure he stood to make more money if the two deals were seperate, rather than if it was part exchange.

Never really acknowledged him at the club, however good luck to him in the future.

Was it him or Duran that done his cruciate a few times?

Anyways, all the best in the future.

I think a lot of people made money out of Charlie Adam. Ian Holloway is one of them, who gets a share of the fee we paid. I'm sure he stood to make more money if the two deals were seperate, rather than if it was part exchange.

Thanks mate for the explanantion. Just doesn't make sense from a Liverpool perspective but I supppose we were the bigger buying Club.

Was it him or Duran that done his cruciate a few times?

Durán is who you are thinking of

Playing for Blackpool tonight against Lancaster City. Will let you know how he gets on.

Played sh*te. Hid all game, barely touched the ball. Couldn't cope with the mighty Dolly Blues!

Lancaster City 3-1 Blackpool

Dunno if there's a "where are they now players thread" but thought this was interesting on the beeb,https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49337429.