Jose Mourinho now thinks very differently about World Cup star Liverpool are 'following'
Liverpool could revisit the chance to bring in a future star, years after the Benfica winger opted against joining them
Jose Mourinho offered a glowing assessment of Andreas Schjelderup's development at Benfica - a player Liverpool are reportedly monitoring at the World Cup. The now‑Real Madrid boss had previously highlighted the winger's evolution under him in Lisbon, having been far less complimentary about Schjelderup's form earlier in the season.
According to Tutto Mercato, Liverpool are among several European clubs monitoring Schjelderup's development - having caught the eye for Norway in the World Cup. Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and Italian duo AC Milan and Como are also said to have him on their radar.
It's not the first time he has been linked with Anfield, either, with the winger previously revealing he turned down a move to the Reds in 2020. A few years on, Schjelderup is a completely different player - one Mourinho described as 'nothing comparable' to the version he inherited when he took charge at Benfica in September.
"Schjelderup is Schjelderup - he struggles for 90 minutes, he struggles with intensity and the sacrifice of transitions," Mourinho had said at the start of his tenure.
The Norwegian didn't see his minutes pick up until the turn of the year, when he started to feature more regularly from the outset. Schjelderup made 20 starts in Liga Portugal from a possible 34, producing seven goals and six assists, and ended the campaign with 43 appearances across all competitions.
By the final game of the season, Mourinho had changed his stance over the 22-year-old. During a press conference ahead of the final match of the Portuguese season against Estoril in May, Mourinho 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."
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At the age 16, Schjelderup admitted it hadn't been an easy decision to turn down a move to Anfield, opting instead to join FC Nordsjaelland in July 2020. Bayern Munich and Juventus were also in the frame, with the youngster having spent time on trial at both clubs.
Speaking on his decision, the youngster 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. I was in the under-19s team when I got started, but I knew when I was ready that I could take a step up to the first team.
"But at the club, they said they didn’t expect me to get there this quick! I planned to do it sooner than they thought, and my plan worked. Of course, maybe I can go to a big team in the future. In the long run, for me, this was the best step. When I am ready, I will take the next step."
At the World Cup, Schjelderup has been playing alongside Erling Haaland, though his contributions have come from the bench in Norway's wins over Iraq and Senegal. Their 3-2 victory over Senegal in the early hours of Tuesday sealed a place in the round of 32, with Haaland scoring twice.
He is under contract at Benfica until the summer of 2028.