InterviewStefan Bajcetic: Liverpool is the best place for me to develop

The 17-year-old is currently in Austria with Jürgen Klopp's first team as preparations for the 2022-23 campaign ramp up.

Bajcetic, who stayed with the squad after featuring in the pre-season tour of Asia, feels such opportunities justify the bold step he took by making the switch from Celta Vigo in February 2021.

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"It's paid off, because I learned a lot as well in the Academy," Bajcetic told Liverpoolfc.com in his first interview since becoming a Red. "I think this is the best club for me to develop and I'm happy – I've always been happy.

"It was difficult to leave all my friends, my family and the place I was living for all my life.

"But I love the football here and that's my dream."

On his summer so far, the Spaniard continued: "It's been very good. It's a very good experience for young lads to play in Thailand and Singapore and travel with the team. It's been good.

"Everyone has been good with me. Luckily, I can speak Spanish as well, so I can speak with everyone really.

"Obviously [my family and friends] are very happy and buzzing. They always try to watch the games and if there's something on social media, they try to look at it. I'm very happy."

Bajcetic has appeared in all three of the Reds' warm-up fixtures so far, impressing in a defensive-midfield position that's typically occupied by Fabinho.

A versatile option, Bajcetic is also more than able to drop into the backline, where he's played in the Academy set-up.

"It's been good," he said of operating in the holding role. "I always played centre-back growing up but now I think I'm capable of playing there. If they give me the opportunity, I will.

"To be honest, I don't mind [where I play]. I just want to play football. If the staff and coach thinks I'm needed there, I will play there.

"Especially for this club, the way he [Fabinho] plays, I think, is the best, and I always try to look at him and learn from him.

"It's obviously tough to play like him but I always try to look at him and learn from his positioning, his pressing and all that."

Bajcetic is remaining level-headed when setting his targets for the new season.

Whether it's with the senior team, U23s or U18s, the teenager just wants regular game time after a recent spell out on the sidelines.

He finished: "To be honest, I just want to stay fit and be able to play games – if it's in the Academy or first team.

"I just want to play football and stay fit because last year I was injured at the end of the season. I just want to be fit, playing and trying to impress."