Liverpool’s Marko Grujic has revealed that a move to Borussia Monchengladbach was a ‘realistic option’ before he joined Porto.
The Serbian midfielder completed a deadline day loan move to the Portuguese side on Monday, when it became clear there was no place for him in Jürgen Klopp’s plans.
He had been heavily linked with a move to Germany for much of the window, having spent the last two seasons on loan with Hertha Berlin.
Ultimately a return never happened, though, with Liverpool instead electing to send him to Liga NOS to continue his development.
It seems, though, a third spell in the Bundesliga was very much a possibility for him, with more than one club there interested.
“Werder, whose coach Kofelt is a great friend of Klopp, has been in the story for a long time, but I did not see a perspective there,” he told Alo!
“Borussia was a realistic option. Lazaro and Embolo praised their coach, Rose, to me.
“This attempt did not yield results, because they failed to sell the currently injured Zakaria, but I believe that one day I will cooperate with Rose.”
Ultimately it was Porto who won the race, securing the Serbia international on a season-long loan deal, which does not include a purchase option.
The move will see him feature in the Champions League for the Portuguese giants, who have been paired alongside Marseille, Manchester City and Olympiakos in Group C.
Grujic is looking forward to that, saying he wanted to find a stable club in Europe if he was to leave Liverpool.
“I wanted to be at a stable, ambitious club that plays in the Champions League, and Porto is just that,” he added.
“While I was waiting for the flight to Oslo with the national team in Copenhagen, all the details with the “Dragons” were settled.
“Immediately after the break, there will be a derby with Sporting, and then temptations in the Champions League – City, Marseille and Olympiakos! I believe that I will fight for a place with coach Sérgio Conceição and contribute to success.
“I am convinced that it is the right choice, and the Portuguese club were in a hurry to register me for the Champions League, which they did in the end.”
