With news that Liverpool could be edging closer to signing long-term target Miralem Pjanic from AS Roma this summer, here’s a look at six facts Reds fans should know about the classy Bosnian playmaker…
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1) He was inspired by a third division player
…his father, that is! Pjanic used to go to training sessions with his father from the age of seven, inspired to become a footballer by a man playing in the Yugoslavian third division!
2) He played for Luxembourg at youth level
Now a long-serving member of the Bosnian national team, Pjanic represented Luxmbourg at youth level, scoring their only goal of the tournament in the 2006 European Under-17 Championship.
3) Big clubs have wanted him for a long time
Despite being relegated to Ligue 2 with Metz in 2008, Pjanic’s ability still caught the eye of a host of top clubs, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona linked with moves for him shortly after the French minnows went down.
4) He once did THIS against Manchester United!
Okay it’s only a friendly, but an awesome long-range striker from Pjanic against Manchester United last summer – something that would make him very popular if he did move to Anfield.
5) He’s only won one trophy
For all his quality, Pjanic has only ever won one trophy in his whole career so far, and that was the Ligue 2 title with Metz all the way back in 2007! Since then he has had to make duo with runners-up spots in Ligue 1 with Lyon and Serie A with AS Roma, as well as in the Coppa Italia final in 2013. Hopefully not a sign of things to come at Liverpool?
6) He speaks six languages
Not a football skill in itself, but Pjanic can speak six languages fluently, which is pretty impressive. The 24-year-old can, if needed, communicate in Bosnian, Luxembourgish, French, German, Italian – and English!