Things haven’t really worked out for Yasser Larouci after leaving Liverpool last summer.
When explaining why he opted to turn down a new deal at the 2020 Premier League champions, Larouci admitted that the prospect of regular first-team football away from Anfield played a major part in his decision.
“I decided against extending my contract at Liverpool,” said the Algeria-born 21-year-old, via The Echo.
“It was clear that there would be limited opportunities to play regularly in the first team in the immediate future.”
Larouci had a point, of course.
Jurgen Klopp handed the youngster his Liverpool debut during the 2019/20 season and spoke in glowing terms of Larouci after an eye-catching performance up against Jadon Sancho and Borussia Dortmund in pre-season a couple of years ago.
But with Kostas Tsimikas arriving at Anfield from Olympiakos, the fresh-faced left-back tumbled even further down Klopp’s pecking order.
Andy Robertson would be difficult to overthrow even for some of the planet’s finest left-sided defenders, let alone an unproven youngster with a handful of senior appearances on his CV.
And the signing of Tsimikas, for a cool £12 million, merely made up Larouci’s mind. If he wanted to play, week-in, week-out, then he’d have no choice but to follow in the footsteps of Pedro Chirivella, Ryan Kent and co.
What next for Yasser Larouci?
One day, that decision may look like an inspired one.
But the fact remains that, ten months after confirming his Anfield exit, Larouci was forced to wait until last weekend to make a maiden start for his new employers, during Troyes’ hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nantes.
A series of injury problems have all-but ruined Larouci’s debut season in Ligue 1. In fact, before Saturday, he’d only played 12 minutes of football for last season’s second-tier champions.
But talk about making up for lost time.
Larouci marked his long-awaited full debut with a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Week, producing an energetic performance at both ends of the pitch while offering a timely reminder as to why this was a signing, some ten months ago, that was viewed as an almighty coup for a Troyes side preparing for their first top-flight season in three years.
Better late than never of course. Fitness permitting, Larouci looks ready to join the Ligue 1 party at last.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
