Jose Mourinho has made a dramatic U-turn on Andreas Schjelderup, the winger Liverpool are reportedly tracking at the World Cup, now calling him a 'great, great, great talent' after a season of development under his management at Benfica.
Mourinho's Initial Criticism
When Mourinho took over at Benfica in September, he was blunt about Schjelderup's shortcomings. 'Schjelderup is Schjelderup - he struggles for 90 minutes, he struggles with intensity and the sacrifice of transitions,' the now-Real Madrid boss said at the time. The Norwegian did not see his game time increase until the new year, but he eventually made 20 starts in Liga Portugal from a potential 34, registering seven goals and six assists, and finished the season with 43 appearances in all competitions.
A Complete Transformation
By the final fixture of the campaign, Mourinho's view had changed entirely. During a press conference before the concluding match against Estoril in May, he said: 'Look, I spoke to him yesterday or the day before and said that he had a lot of reasons to be very proud of himself. Comparing the Schjelderup of months ago with the Schjelderup of today is impossible. There's no point of comparison, the only thing that's the same is that boyish face... He's still unshaven, his face is the same, that baby face is the same. Neither from a physical point of view, nor from a tactical point of view, nor from a mental point of view, there's nothing comparable. I'd say that this kid, if he continues to develop in this way, will surely be a real talent and I'd say a great, great, great talent.'
Liverpool Interest and Previous Rejection
According to Tutto Mercato, Liverpool are among a number of European sides keeping tabs on Schjelderup's development, having impressed for Norway at the World Cup. Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, and Italian pair AC Milan and Como are also understood to be observing him closely. It is not the first occasion he has been linked with Anfield; the winger previously disclosed he rejected a switch to the Reds in 2020. At age 16, Schjelderup acknowledged it had not been a straightforward choice, choosing instead to sign for FC Nordsjaelland in July 2020. Bayern Munich and Juventus were also interested, with the youngster having spent time on trial at both clubs. Speaking about his choice, he said: 'Of course, it was a bit hard (turning down Liverpool), because when you grow up, you watch the big names and then you hear that they want you, so your head starts to spin. But I got a lot of help from my father and agents, who helped me make the right decision. It hurt a little bit for me and my dad in our hearts (not to join Liverpool), but the move here was instead of going to an academy at under-19 or under-17 level. It felt like this step in the ocean was the right one for me.'
World Cup Performances
At the World Cup, Schjelderup has been lining up alongside Erling Haaland, though his contributions have come from the bench during Norway's victories over Iraq and Senegal. Their 3-2 triumph over Senegal in the early hours of Tuesday secured their place in the round of 32, with Haaland netting twice. Schjelderup remains under contract at Benfica until the summer of 2028.
