Teixeira: I always followed Kaka
They may have played in different positions and hailed from significantly different backgrounds, but former Reds striker Neil Mellor seemed a natural candidate to interview aspiring youngster Joao Carlos Teixeira.
Mellor was a prolific goalscorer at every youth level during his time at Anfield, before graduating to the first team and notching six goals from his 22 appearances in a Liverpool jersey.
Still just 30, the Sheffield native knows exactly what is required to hone potential talent into professional quality capable of representing Liverpool.
Who better then to find out more about a young man who dreams of achieving that goal?
"I'm an attacking midfielder - an eight or 10," the Portuguese prospect explained in the first edition of a new series which features Mellor in conversation with our Academy stars.
"I really liked Kaka when he was at AC Milan - I always followed him, he's my model.
"I prefer to play in the middle because that's where I played all my life. We train a lot to play the Spanish game so I don't feel too much difference.
"The physical contact is different and difficult, and it's much colder. But the teams are trying to play the same way as the Spanish."
Liverpool supporters enjoyed a first glimpse of the 20-year-old before he even joined the club - as Teixeira found the net at the Kop end for Sporting Lisbon during a NextGen Series encounter at Anfield.
Alerted to his attacking abilities in a side which fascinated each and every observer that night, the Reds' scouting department reacted quickly to negotiate a deal which saw Teixeira move to Merseyside.
A long-term back injury instantly set the youngster back at the Academy, but the midfielder recently returned to full fitness and is now determined to succeed at Anfield.
He continued: "When we came to play we were talking about it at Sporting. Liverpool is a big club and the stadium has a lot of history. We were excited to play there; I really enjoyed it and I was happy to score.
"One of the reasons I signed was the stadium, the history of the club, and I know I can have a chance to play in the first team here. I made the right choice and I'm really happy here.
"I support Sporting Lisbon, and in England I support Liverpool. Liverpool is a massive club, in the top ten of the biggest clubs in the world.
"I'm going to the stadium a lot to watch the first team. It's amazing. I remember the Carling Cup at Wembley - 'You'll Never Walk Alone' after that was amazing.
"My first time listening to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at the stadium was unbelievable.
"I feel fit now. Sometimes I feel some pain in my back but I have work to do on that. I always feel ready to play after that.
"It was really hard because after training four times here they told me I couldn't train anymore because of the problem with my back.
"I was frustrated, because I was playing really well at Sporting and I came here and couldn't play. Seven months without training and playing was really hard for me.
"My teammates and people working at the club helped me with everything. Whatever my problem was, they always helped me - I have to say thank you.
"I learned English at college in Portugal, but not perfect. I'm trying to improve and I'm getting better."
The NextGen Series has kick-started a revolution at youth level - aiding Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom to progress to the Liverpool first team and, in many ways, earning Teixeira his transfer to Anfield.
And the Portuguese could face his former club at the knockout stage of this year's tournament, with the Reds drawn against Sporting in the last 16.
"It's a great thing for the young lads because we can play against good teams that we don't know. We can see other countries," the youngster enthused.
Given their form at domestic level, the young Reds should have nothing to fear - the U21s have yet to lose a league match in 2012-13 and have been highly impressive under new coach Alex Inglethorpe.
Teixeira insisted that the winning mentality will continue for the duration of the season, and revealed that he is already looking forward to the chance to take on Manchester United.
"We're going to do the same things and try to win every game because we go out to win - we don't think any other way," he added.
"I've never played against United, but my teammates tell me it's the best game.
"Like Everton it's a special game so I'm excited to play in that game. We improve when we play against the best teams so it will be good for us even if we don't win."
In the next edition of 'Mellor Meets...' the ex-Liverpool man will be chatting with Ryan McLaughlin.