‘I was born and raised in Manchester but started crying when Liverpool wanted me’
His birthplace is one of Liverpool’s fiercest rivals, yet one former prodigy chose to ignore the partisanship and turn out for the Merseysiders at Anfield
Most football fans born in Manchester are mostly attributed red for United or blue for City.
However, one former prodigy chose to ignore both of the city’s Premier League giants when Liverpool came calling. Nathan Eccleston was one of the few players to relish his time playing under Roy Hodgson at Anfield.
During the former England manager’s doomed seven month spell at Liverpool, Eccleston was given many chances to shine under Hodgson. However, while the now 33-year-old appreciates every opportunity he was given, his fondest memory was the day he signed for the club.
“As you can imagine, being a 15-year-old lad from Manchester, when Liverpool are the ones that are calling you it comes as a bit of a surprise initially,” Eccleston said to the Liverpool Echo. “Then the overwhelming feeling of Liverpool being interested in me and wanting me to come down and trial hit – I literally just started crying.
“I knew what a great opportunity it could be for a lad like myself to go and present my skills to a club like Liverpool. That summer Liverpool had just won the Champions League, and whether you were a die-hard Liverpool fan or not, everyone in the world of football was a Liverpool fan that night because of how historic Istanbul was.”
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Eccleston made nine appearances for the Reds in all competitions. While Rafa Benitez handed him his debut, it was Hodgson who gave him many opportunities to impress in the first team.
Liverpool in for ‘outstanding’ new Brazilian target also wanted by Nott’m Forest, Fulham
Liverpool have joined Nottingham Forest and Fulham in pursuing one of Andre’s Fluminense team-mates, according to reports.
Liverpool have certainly been scouring the Brazilian market for new signings lately. Indeed, they have been heavily linked with defensive midfielder Andre in recent months.
However, the Reds then began to cool their interest after deciding other midfielders might be a better fit in Jurgen Klopp’s squad. As a result, Fulham are now poised to take Andre to Craven Cottage.
But Andre is not the only young Brazilian Liverpool have been linked with. When dropping their interest in Andre, it was suggested that they might turn their attention to Corinthians midfielder Gabriel Moscardo. Although, the 18-year-old is on the verge of joining French giants Paris Saint-Germain instead.
Liverpool are also admirers of Sao Paulo centre-back Lucas Beraldo, as they look to find a long-term replacement for the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip. But in a double blow for Klopp, PSG are pushing to sign Beraldo alongside Moscardo.
According to the Liverpool Echo’s live transfer blog (30/12, at 08:57), which cites reports emerging from Spain, Liverpool have quickly moved on from the disappointment surrounding Beraldo and are now hoping to land Fluminense captain Nino.
He is a 26-year-old centre-half who recently made his debut for Brazil, appearing for 45 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Argentina last month.
The report describes Nino’s performances this year as ‘outstanding’. His best achievement was lifting with Copa Libertadores trophy for Fluminense after they beat Boca Juniors in the final.
Liverpool, Forest and Fulham all converge on defender
Earlier this month, it emerged that Forest are battling German side Eintracht Frankfurt for Nino’s signature. But this fresh update reveals that Liverpool and Fulham will provide Nuno Espirito Santo’s team with competition for the deal.
There is interest from further afield too, with Roma and Feyenoord also named as potential suitors.
All of those clubs have been alerted to the possibility of landing Nino in a cut-price deal. His contract will reportedly expire next year, forcing Fluminense to set his price tag at just the €7million (£6m) mark.
Shortly after Fluminense’s Copa Libertadores triumph, Nino was asked directly about the links with Forest. He replied: “I also found out about the interest on the day before [the final]. My agent already knew that my focus was on recovery, on being able to play this game 100 per cent.
“I did it, thank God. I met with them this morning, they gave me all the possible situations, nothing is certain yet, what is certain is what I’ve always said, that I have a great affection for Fluminense, I’m very happy here, and if one day I leave, I want to leave in a way that’s good for me and for Fluminense.”
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