Liverpool accused of bullying Bobby Duncan over desire to leave with agent left concerned for player’s mental health

Wants out | Bobby Duncan
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
David Lynch28 August 2019

Liverpool have been accused of "mentally bullying" Bobby Duncan by refusing to allow the young striker to leave the club this summer.

A statement released by the player’s representatives takes aim at sporting director Michael Edwards over an alleged refusal to countenance loan offers.

The statement also vows that Duncan - cousin of Reds legend Steven Gerrard - will not return to the club amid the threat of fines and has "not left his room for four days".

A Liverpool FC spokesperson issued the following statement to Standard Sport: "Liverpool Football Club is aware of and disappointed by the unattributed comments and unfounded allegations that have been made in the media regarding one of our players.

"As the interests of the player in question are not best served by either inaccurate speculation, inflammatory statements or public discourse, we will be making no further comment.

"We will, however, continue our efforts to work privately with the player to find resolution in the best interests of all involved."

The 18-year-old had been the subject of reported interest from Danish outfit FC Nordsjaelland and Italian side Fiorentina in recent weeks.

However, Liverpool made clear that they were unwilling to entertain loan offers for the player, who helped secure the club’s first FA Youth Cup win since 2007 last season.

And Duncan’s agent, Saif Rubie, has now hit out at those decisions, claiming they have negatively affected the mental health of his client.

A statement read: "There has been a lot of things said the last few weeks regarding Bobby Duncan's future at Liverpool.

Duncan (middle) in training Photo: Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool FC via Getty Images

"And today [Wednesday] is the final straw of the behaviour and dealing of Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards.

"A few months ago before the end of last season, Bobby had meetings with the club's hierarchy including academy director Alex Inglethorpe.

"It was recognised that Bobby wasn't happy at Liverpool for different reasons and Alex invited us to bring offers to the club for the exit of Bobby Duncan.

"For a player with zero first-team experience, no clubs were prepared to pay an outright reasonable fee for a player they got for £200,000 last summer.

"With that in mind we have been able to find clubs that were ready to take Bobby on a season-long loan with a option to buy for amounts of £1.5million upwards which is a great return for the club on a player who will never play for the Liverpool first team and who doesn't want to be there.

"The club and Michael Edwards specifically made it clear that that kind of deal wouldn't work.

"So then myself and my team worked even harder and managed to get a deal on the table for a loan with an obligation to buy after five starts with a higher transfer fee than before and a sell-on to Liverpool.

"Putting all of that aside, the real reason Bobby missed the Under 23 game (against Southampton) on Monday is because he has suffered some deep mental health issues with all the stress the club has put him under.

Duncan with Reds manager Jurgen Klopp Photo: Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool FC via Getty Images

"Stress of being told he can leave but then going out of their way to force him to stay against his will.

"Not only is he on a very small salary but he also has one season left on his contract after this one and Liverpool have flatly said he will not get a new one.

"Bobby has not left his room for four days because of this and will never go back to Liverpool again and my only concern now is his mental health and well being.

"The Liverpool hierarchy have shown zero consideration to that and have even gone as far as saying in writing that they will punish him and make him stay at the club until January and beyond to teach him a lesson.

Duncan has removed all mentions of Liverpool from his social media accounts Photo: Twitter/bobbyduncan999
Twitter/bobbyduncan999

"This is not really dignified behaviour from a club with the rich history of Liverpool and one who one of their greatest ever players Steven Gerrard happens to be Bobby's cousin.

"It's a sad state of affairs that a club such as a Liverpool can be allowed to get away with mentally bullying and destroying the life of a young man such as Bobby.

"I know one thing for sure, and that is he is never going back there again and he's on such a small salary that no amount of fines will even make a difference.

"In this situation, all that matters is the player's health and in this case, Michael Edwards has totally ignored that because of his own stubbornness and I really pray that his experience doesn't happen to any young players again."

Bobby Duncan's Twitter and Instagram pages on Wednesday changed to a blank, all black, profile picture, with no mention of Liverpool FC in his bio.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has weighed into the row on social media, insisting Duncan would be better served by waiting for opportunities at Anfield in a reply to Rubie's statement.

He wrote: "I know Bobby & his family well, he’s young & at that age we all want everything right now. Played for the first team in pre-season which is a great start & he should try & develop this season & maybe make the bench in Carabao Cup. That should be the advice you’re giving him you [clown emoji]."

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