Fiorentina 'plead with FIFA' to offload ex-Liverpool youngster Bobby Duncan
Liverpool sold Bobby Duncan to Fiorentina in the summer for £1.8million
Bobby Duncan's career is again in limbo with Fiorentina reportedly pleading to FIFA for the chance to offload the former Liverpool forward.
Duncan courted controversy in August when his desire to leave the Reds was made public in an incendiary social media post from then agent Saif Rubie after the club turned down an initial approach from Fiorentina.
Liverpool, who strongly denied a string of allegations from Rubie, ultimately reached an agreement with the Italian side a few days later for a £1.8million fee with a 20% sell-on clause included in the terms.
Duncan was introduced to the Fiorentina under-19 side and has scored four times in nine appearances for their under-19 side, although his last goal came in October.
Liverpool won't lose sleep over Bobby Duncan departure - but this wasn't the plan for promising youngster How Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards has emerged stronger from Bobby Duncan transfer controversyHe hasn't appeared since the start of December and has yet to feature even on the bench for the first team.
And Daniele Prade, the Fiorentina sporting director, said: “In his head, he wanted to play immediately with Fiorentina.
“We are seeing what to do with him because playing in the ready-to-go first team is not easy.”
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The 18-year-old Duncan, who has changed agents several times already during his fledgling career, split with Rubie earlier this month and is now represented by Sasch Breese of German SportsTotal agency.
While Fiorentina hope to agree a loan move for the forward this month, it is unclear whether they will be unable to with Duncan having also featured for Liverpool U23s and an U21 side in the EFL Trophy this season.
Reports in Italy, though, have indicated the Italian side have sought clarification over whether the rule of being unable to feature for three different teams in a single campaign applies to outings for the youth team.
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If FIFA block any possible move, though, it leaves Duncan facing the prospect of continuing on the sidelines in Italy.