Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 8y

Chelsea's Nemanja Matic convinced Marko Grujic to sign with Liverpool

Liverpool new boy Marko Grujic has revealed how Chelsea's Nemanja Matic helped convince him to make a move to Anfield.

The young midfielder signed for Reds from Red Star Belgrade in a £5.1 million move back January but remained at his boyhood club on loan till the end of the season to help them lift the Serbian title.

Matic is a close ally of Grujic, with the pair having come through the ranks at Red Star and now both feature for the Serbia national side. The Chelsea midfielder informed him about what he could expect ahead of his proposed move to Merseyside, as did other colleagues in the Premier League.

"Nemanja is a good friend," Grujic said. "He started at the same club as me and is one of the key players for the national team.

"He plays in the same position as me and I would like to play as his partner in the middle of the pitch for Serbia. I can learn a lot from him.

"We spoke a lot during national camps about English football, other players in the Premier League and he told me very positive things.

"He said it's faster and stronger football, that I need to adapt and I need to wait some months before I get my chance. He said when I get it, to make sure I take it. He said that it's a big, big club -- one of the biggest in England.

"When I first heard Liverpool wanted me, I called Nemanja, Lazar [Markovic] and Aleksandar Kolarov and they all told me 'you need to sign for them.'

"Three different players all saying the same things -- two who play for big rivals -- it shows that they know what Liverpool means in European football."

Grujic has already impressed his new supporters this preseason, scoring two goals in two appearances. Liverpool are now in the United States as part of their summer schedule for three friendlies.

Jurgen Klopp's side are currently in Pasadena, California for Wednesday's meeting with Chelsea at the Rose Bowl, having briefly departed their base in Palo Alto.

"It's my first time here in America, and everything has been nice," the 20-year-old said. "We have a good pitch, a good hotel and good weather so we can prepare well for the Premier League.

"First we have three tough games against strong rivals here in the USA and I think it will be a great test to see what we can do in this moment."

"The first game of this tour comes against such a strong team. It's 10 degrees hotter in Los Angeles so it will be harder in that heat, but it will be good as part of our preparations."

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