John Barnes urges Liverpool not to sign Morocco World Cup star

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By Martin Graham | 23rd Dec 2022

John Barnes is not convinced Liverpool should sign Moroccan midfielder based on World Cup performance. The Reds are interested in signing Sofyan Amrabat following his stellar World Cup performance.

The World Cup has come and gone, but in the mind of plenty of people, its mark remains indelible. It was a tournament that served up plenty of surprises, shocks and excitement. It was a tournament filled with drama to the end, and hard to shake off the feeling of a well-scripted movie.

One of the surprises of the Qatar 2022 World Cup is Morocco. They were more an Arab representative than Africa. The Atlas Lions played like Lions and beat several top European nations as they made their way to the semi-final of the World Cup. Morocco finished fourth after a beautiful run.

There are many heroes on the Moroccan side. Some of them include Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Neysri, Sofiane Boufal, Yassine Bounou, Azzedine Ounahi and Sofyan Amrabat. They have attracted the interest of several top European clubs, with Liverpool particularly interested in signing Sofyan Amrabat. However, John Barnes has warned Liverpool to stay clear of the midfielder.

John Barnes warns Liverpool against Amrabat signing

It is not unusual for players to court the attention of European teams after a World Cup. Brilliant performances usually translate to a transfer after the tournament. The peculiarity of the Qatar 2022 World Cup means there will be little movement this time. The World Cup fell in the middle of the season, leaving most clubs little wriggle room.

Liverpool seem to be interested in signing Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. The midfielder had a stellar performance at the World Cup, but John Barnes does not believe it is enough for Liverpool to sign him. Barnes warned his former club about signing the midfielder.

Barnes told that he thought Amrabat had a solid World Cup but has warned clubs not to make transfer decisions based on World Cup their performance. Barnes opined it would be a great idea if the target player had been on their radar for the past six months to one year. However, the former Liverpool winger thinks the Reds should not sign a player off the back of a few games.

A solid World Cup performance and a few offers for Amrabat

Amrabat was undeniably a star for the Atlas Lions of Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar. The Fiorentina midfielder has attracted the attention of several, with Liverpool as one of them. According to his agent, the 26-year-old has a few offers. They came after his impressive performance at the World Cup.

Amrabat joined Fiorentina in 2020 and made 78 appearances for the Serie A side. Before joining La Viola, he plied his trade with Belgian side Club Brugge and was instrumental in their winning the Jupiler Pro League. He spent the 2019-20 campaign on loan at Hellas Verona, where he was the club’s Player of the Season.