Liverpool new boy Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed in his first two matches on Merseyside after a warning from his close friend and former Salzburg teammate
Just before he was about to fly to Liverpool to make the biggest step so far of his impressive career development, Dominik Szoboszlai’s phone lit up with a message.
It was from his close friend and former team-mate Erling Haaland, and consisted of just two words: “Get ready.”
It was from one “monster” to another, two world class talents who have arrived in the Premier League within a year of each other, both for fees which hardly reflect their values in today’s inflated transfer market.
Haaland’s message was hardly necessary as it happens. It seems Szoboszlai was born ready to play for Liverpool …even down to the tattoo he already had on his arm which is loosely based on a quote from the Anfield legend Steven Gerrard.
For those who know the 22-year-old Hungarian, it is no surprise he has taken Gerrard’s No.8 at the club he joined for £60m, at the end of July. There is no lack of confidence or belief in his own talent from the midfielder.
He showed it from a young age, just 16 when he steered Hungary’s U17s team to the Euros with an injury wonder strike winner against Haaland’s Norway, and just 17 when he was given his debut by senior national team coach Marco Rossi.
Rossi then made the midfielder his captain, for the same reason Jurgen Klopp spent £60m to bring him to Anfield. “Because of personality and his natural leadership,” the Italian coach explained.
“The most impressive thing even from the beginning was his unbelievable personality, his natural leadership at such a young age, and then of course all this together with his talent and commitment.
Haaland and Szoboszlai during their time with Salzburg
“Everybody here with the national team has no doubt Dominik could be among the most important Liverpool players in the future.”
Like Haaland, a release clause in Szoboszlai’s contract allowed him to leave RB Leipzig for below the current market value for a world class midfielder.
Chelsea paid almost twice as much for Enzo Fernandez and then Moises Caicedo, Manchester United almost half as much again for the ageing Casemiro.
Yet within two games of joining Liverpool, he has already shown the rich promise that has every coach who’s worked with him raving about his talent…and suggested he could be the best midfield buy of a simply insane Premier League summer transfer window
Dominik Szoboszlai was brilliant against Bournemouth ( Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The last Hungarian to play for Liverpool is keeper Adam Bogdan, a former Hungary national team colleague of Szoboszlai, and someone who has no doubt of his success at Anfield, knowing the club as well as he does.
“He is born to be a star. He is the biggest talent Hungary has had, in the last few years for sure, but maybe overall as well. And he is not fazed by the pressure of that status – he won’t be at Liverpool.
“One of his best friends in football is Erling Haaland and I think he has a similar mentality to him. He’s not really scared, doesn’t get nervous. The more pressure, the better he performs.
“The money for a Hungarian player is unbelievable, but given his pedigree, Liverpool can say with a lot of certainty this can work out.”
Klopp called him a monster when he signed. Haaland describes him the same. For his national team coach Rossi, he has a monstrous “potential”.
“You look at how he has developed so much every year under some very coaches. Now he is working with one of the best coaches in the world, and with Klopp, he can take those steps to the highest level of all.”