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Wonderkid Liverpool and Tottenham tried to sign who could ‘turn into Neymar’ quits European football

Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images
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One exciting player who Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur missed out on has quit European football to return to South America.

Both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur spent time pursuing Kaio Jorge, before missing out to Juventus.

His spell in Italy will not have persuaded either club that they should regret losing out, as they may have feared at the time.

19-year-old Brazilian was described as ‘Neymar 2.0’ by his agent and the similarities are stark but Jorge is now set to leave the Italian giants.

His move to the Italian club looked to be Jorge’s big breakthrough in Europe but the teenager has now departed Juventus with a move to Cruzeiro complete.

Juventus U23 v Pro Patria - Serie C
Photo by Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images

Jorge departs Juventus

Writing on his Instagram, Jorge has confirmed his decision to leave Turin and will return to South America with Cruzeiro.

According to Jorge’s agent Andrea Bagnoli, who was speaking to Calciomercato back in 2021, both Liverpool and Tottenham were keen on the Brazilian as well as another European heavyweight.

“I know that he was followed with interest by Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Tottenham, but all the top clubs were informed,” Bagnoli said.

“A little Lautaro, a little Firmino; he is a player with their characteristics, but by finding him the right position and giving him experience he can also turn into a Neymar.”

Jorge is certainly not the first player to come out of Brazil to be compared to Neymar and he certainly won’t be the last. And it is not an easy expectation to live up to.

Jorge’s Juventus struggle

The winger made just nine Serie A appearances for Juventus before he went out on loan to Frosinone.

This move seemed to help him develop as he scored three times for the Italian club but it wasn’t enough for the 22-year-old to remain in Turin.

During his earlier time at Santos, Jorge scored just five league goals, a low tally offset by his young age.

His production will need to improve at Cruzeiro if he is to return to Europe in the future.