Video: Liverpool beat off competition from the big guns to snap up 11-year old known as ‘the Irish Messi’

If this young fella lives up to the hype, Liverpool are going to have some player on their hands.

The Daily Star are reporting that the Reds have beaten off stiff competition to secure the signature of Zak Gilsenan, an 11-year old who was born in Ireland, grew up in Australia and has cut his footballing corn in the famed La Masia academy in Barcelona. And you thought you had an interesting life. With Gilsenan’s family moving to England, a number of top clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal were believed to be interested in signing him up, but the Gilsenans have insetad decided on Liverpool as the destination where Zak will continue his footballing education. They don’t call him the ‘Irish Messi’ just because he’s diminutive and has floppy hair like Messi did a few years ago either. Gilsenan captained a Barcelona youth side during his time at La Masia and once scored seven goals in a trial game. He has played as a striker, a midfielder and a right back and had been due to join Tottenham two years ago until he was spotted playing in Australia by a former Barcelona player, who urged the Spanish giants to snap him up. With the whole furore over Jack Grealish, a lot of Irish fans are probably sick to death of fighting over players with multiple international options at this stage, but we’re slightly optimistic entirely sure that Zak will do the right thing and choose to play for the Boys in Green ahead of England and Australia if and when the time comes. Here’s a glimpse of what young Zak is capable of. Remember the name folks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiuItZBz6WY Video via YouTube/Footballrazzle