'He has huge potential and talent': The inside track on Marko Grujic

Veljko Paunovic managed the 19-year-old in various youth national sides over the years and led him to the crown of world champion in New Zealand last June.

Grujic became Jürgen Klopp's first Liverpool signing on Wednesday from Red Star Belgrade, where he's returned on loan until the end of the season.

And Paunovic - now manager of Chicago Fire in the MLS - reckons his former player has the necessary traits on and off-the-pitch in order to succeed at his new club.

“He's a wonderful kid,” the 38-year-old told Liverpoolfc.com. “His personality is very aligned with the values of Liverpool - a team with huge tradition all around the world.

“He knows very well how to adapt to that level and knows how he should behave in order to become a very successful Liverpool player.”

The coach remembers his first encounter with the youngster three years ago when he was, even then, fully aware of the talents Grujic possessed.

He recalls: “I said to him, 'I strongly believe you are going to become a senior national team player and we will help you with that.'

“The improvement we had in those three years was amazing. He has huge potential and huge talent. Everything depends on him and he has to take advantage of it.

“He wants to learn. He's always open minded, asking questions. As a coach he asks you questions and with those answers, he improves.

“He's very technical with great size. He's has great control in playing and working in a midfield. I think that he has the capacity to score goals and make assists too.

“He can keep the ball, turn and play the required pass or even carry the ball from box-to-box, I remember him doing that a lot.

“He will carry the ball, take on a couple of people and then finish. He's very offensive-minded.

“I think he's going to fit perfectly.”

Paunovic made the tough decision to leave Grujic out of the side for the final of the U20 World Cup against Brazil.

At the time, the Serbian was considerably younger than most of the other players in the tournament and had to accept his role as a squad player.

Even despite these blows, Paunovic insists the player dealt with the disappointment with the utmost professionalism, as he does with everything.

“He accepted it very well,” he added. “When Marko came to play for us at the World Cup, he didn't play for Red Star [that much].

“He was out on loan and had a secondary role in the first team at Red Star. He was fighting for a spot there but we knew him and we knew that he was a project.

“We knew that he was ready to be with us but this is going to his role [as a squad player]. He adapted to that very well. He's a great guy.

“His attitude at the training field is fantastic. He's always one of the best players in every session. He will do everything you ask.

“I didn't have any problem with him in those three years of working with him.”

The move to Liverpool shows the development the midfielder has made in recent years but his former mentor still believes he needs to keep grounded if he's to become an integral member of Klopp’s side in the future.

Asked whether he’ll be a success on Merseyside, Paunovic replied: “Yes, absolutely.”

Before adding: “The Serbian league is a developmental one which means that the players have potential but they still need to improve once they move to European leagues.

“He still has to keep that mentality of being hard working to improve his qualities because he can't stop now.”