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Stefan Bajcetic has been compared to Sergio Busquets on loan at Las Palmas – just two months after ending a difficult stint with Red Bull Salzburg.
The
20-year-old has quickly become a fan favourite for his ‘pure talent’ and ‘exceptional attitude’ as the La Liga club look to avoid relegation.
It marks a
strong turnaround from his apparent struggles in Salzburg, where he only completed one full 90 minutes and saw Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant, Pep Lijnders, get sacked as the Austrian heavyweights faltered.
Many fans are wondering what the future holds for the midfielder after an injury ruled him out for most of last season, and his time with Salzburg left a lot of question marks.
‘Bajcetic couldn't even come close to reaching his potential,’ Aleksandar Andonov, head of sports at SALZBURG24, tells Confidential. ‘A closer look at his performances suggested that he wasn't playing with full effort and wasn't fully committed to the club on the field.’
Damning words indeed, especially for a star who was courted by Barcelona in the past. Liverpool recalled the Spaniard in January and flung him out to the Canary Islands, where fans and the media give glowing reviews to Confidential.
One fan purrs: ‘Stefan definitely stands out from others. You can see his pure talent almost all the time. He is our star and every Las Palmas supporter would love to have him here for as long as it's possible.’
Meanwhile,
local journalist Manuel Garcia says: ‘He reminds me of Sergio Busquets, because of how he drives the ball and how he moves around the field.’
Now, now.
After just seven games, any such comparison should be taken with a spoonful of salt.
And
the stellar form of Antony at Real Betis, after his plight at Manchester United, serves as a reminder that thriving abroad does not necessarily equal Premier League success.
But the early indications are that Bajcetic is showing the defensive grit that defined his impact at Anfield before his injury. Few players in La Liga have made more tackles, blocks, interceptions, or aerial wins than him per 90 minutes since he arrived.
A reminder as well of Slot’s words in August on Bajcetic. ‘I hope it will be a big year for him because he’s a very talented player and I think he could become a very important player for us, but only if he gets playing time now,’ said the Liverpool head coach.
‘It’s a smart decision, at least in our opinion, to let him go somewhere, where he will hopefully play a lot of games. Then for next season, we’ll have a player. If he fulfills his potential, he could definitely, definitely play for us in the future.’
Let’s see what the future holds, then.