Mateusz Musialowski knows where he wants his final destination to be in football. Less than a year into life at Liverpool, the teenager has done little to hide hopes of a long-term spot in the first team at Anfield.
Mateusz Musialowski said: “This is definitely the place I want to be and I will do everything to stay in this place,” he said of his brief promotion to the senior setup during March’s international break.
No one can claim he is lacking in ambition, at least. At the age of just 17, the young frontman has already caught the eye of several outside of the Academy bubble at Kirkby. Signed from SMS Lodz in Poland last summer, he spent his first term on Merseyside wowing onlookers with a dribble-heavy style that saw him nicknamed, by some at least, as ‘the Polish Hazard’. Such lofty comparisons are often attempted to be nipped in the bud by those wary of expecting too much of young hopefuls, but Musialowski’s ability is striking at such a young age.
A youth colleague said: “To train with, he’s very technical and it’s very difficult to get the ball off him. The ball seems to stick to his feet and he is very fast and agile too. He has a really good attitude as well.”
It was the first time a player outside of the first team had won the award since 2013. For Musialowski, though, it was the type of goal that he believes is his trademark.
Mateusz Musialowski said: “That was my typical goal in Poland,” he said of the mazy run and finish. “For some, it could be difficult but I find it easy when I am doing this on the pitch. I love to take the ball, just dribble through everyone. This is my style of playing football. When I dribble [past] the first player, I feel more confident, but when I just start running, I just go. Coaches from Poland and here never told me to stop, so that’s why I continue!”
Liverpool’s coaches have no desire to eradicate it from his game as of yet, either.
Mateusz Musialowski added: “When I see the space, I just go for it. I have seen a lot of Lionel Messi goals like that, so I try to be like him and I want to repeat it!”
If you are going to replicate a style, there are worse players to imitate, even if it will take some time before further comparisons to the iconic Messi will be seriously made. Clearly, though, this is a young player who will back himself to the hilt.
Jarrell Quansah said: “Everyone has seen Mateusz now. His dribbling is unbelievable.”
Musialowski will get his chance to show what he can really do alongside more experienced operators when the Reds kick off their pre-season friendly run on July 20. The club have taken the unusual decision to fit in two 30-minute games next week against Wacker Innsbruck and Stuttgart, with both fixtures being played behind closed doors. A meeting with Klopp’s former side, Mainz, is next up on Friday July 23 before a meeting with Hertha Berlin on July 29. Musialowski will be out to strut his stuff ahead of another important season in the youth ranks from August onwards.
Ljinders said: “All the young talents who have come with us, our message is enjoy and keep this ‘updated’ phrase of Bob Paisley in your mind – we search for a player who nutmegs Virgil van Dijk in training but steps politely aside for him in the corridor.”
One suspects that is a description that sits well on Musialowski, whose shy demeanour off the pitch is at odds with his supreme confidence with the ball at his feet. After all, he has already nutmegged Fabinho in a training match at the AXA Centre earlier this year.
An Anfield youngster said: “That is what the boss has created, to give young boys a chance and we always want to look at that model to find the ‘next one’ so he can develop. We have a good squad and they all help each other. The senior stars give them information in the same way the coaches do to improve them and we just try to help them make the next step.”
Liverpool were said to have fended off competition from Ajax, RB Leipzig and Arsenal last summer to land Musialowski.
