Norwegian rising star Andreas Schjelderup has admitted he turned down the chance to sign for Liverpool - although has left the door open to a potential transfer in the future.
The 17-year-old midfielder began his career in his native country at reigning top-flight champions Bodo/Glimt but was soon being targeted by a number of top European sides and was left with a big decision to make.
In the end, he opted to sign for Danish side FC Nordsjaelland in July 2020 and has experienced rapid progression since making this move. Bayern Munich and Juventus were two other possible destinations for Schjelderup, having spent time on trail at both clubs, but he does not regret the path taken in his early career.
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“Of course, it was a bit hard (turning down Liverpool), because when you grow up, you watch the big names and then you hear that they want you, so your head starts to spin," the teenager, who has been compared to Jack Grealish, told Goal.
“But I got a lot of help from my father and agents, who helped me make the right decision. It hurt a little bit for me and my dad in our hearts (not to join Liverpool), but the move here was instead of going to an academy at under-19 or under-17 level.
“It felt like this step in the ocean was the right one for me. I was in the under-19s team when I got started, but I knew when I was ready that I could take a step up to the first team. But at the club, they said they didn’t expect me to get there this quick! I planned to do it sooner than they thought, and my plan worked.
“Of course, maybe I can go to a big team in the future. In the long run, for me, this was the best step. When I am ready, I will take the next step.”
Schjelderup has already made 36 first-team appearances for Nordsjaelland since signing for the club on a permanent basis and could well be one to watch out for in the future. Operating alongside the likes of Erling Haaland, Jens Petter Hauge and Martin Odegaard, the youngster will have hopes of transforming the fortunes of Norway on the international stage.
