Liverpool have reportedly decided to offer former Barcelona youngster Juanma a week-long trial at the club, with the Reds’ U23 manager labelling him a ‘very good player’. 

 

Juan Manuel Garcia joined the Liverpool U23 team on a trial this week and took part in the side’s 4-1 win over Rhyl FC on Sunday. The central defender was deployed at left-back in the game and capped off his performance with an assist to American forward Brooks Lennon.

Liverpool U23 manager Michael Beale had a chat with Liverpool Echo after the match and confirmed that the former Barcelona player, in whom he sees good potential, has joined the club for a week.

“Juanma is a boy who’s come in to spend the week with us with a view to maybe seeing more of him,” Beale told Liverpool Echo. “He’s only had a couple of days training with us, speaks very little English but you can see a very good player. He had a fantastic assist for Brooks Lennon.”

Juanma led the Barcelona youth side in the UEFA Youth League but was let go by the Catalan club at the end of last season. (Picture Courtesy - AFP/Getty Images)
Juanma led the Barcelona youth side in the UEFA Youth League but was let go by the Catalan club at the end of last season. (Picture Courtesy – AFP/Getty Images)

Juanma captained the Catalan giants in last year’s UEFA Youth League but was surprisingly let go by the club this summer. The Reds’ U23 manager also revealed that despite his short stay with the club, Liverpool knew a bit about the 19-year-old already given he had played alongside two of the club’s Spanish academy players.

“He played with (fellow academy players) Madger Gomes and Pedro Chirivella with Spain so we’re quite familiar with him,” Beale added.

Beale also went on to give an insight into the player’s talents and abilities, saying that the defender is versatile and can play well in different positions owing to his technical prowess. He was impressed with the ex-Barcelona man and even likened him to Manchester City fullback Pablo Zabaleta.

“I quite like him, he reminds he a little bit of someone like a Pablo Zabaleta-type player, a nice player.”

It looks like Juanma has made quite an impression on the coaching staff at Anfield during his short stay at the club. Barcelona’s loss may just turn out to be Liverpool’s gain as both Juanma and Liverpool will hope the player is able to sign a professional contract at Anfield.

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