Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo has revealed that his nickname as a youngster was “Ronaldinho”, before admitting the Brazilian was one of his idols growing up.
The promising teenager started this season out on loan in the Championship, joining Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer. However after enjoying an impressive first half of the campaign under Kenny Jackett, Ojo was recalled by his parent club, with Jurgen Klopp clearly wanting a closer look at the 19-year-old.
He made his first Premier League appearance as a late substitute in Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 defeat at Southampton back in March, coming on for the last eight minutes. Although he missed out on their next clash, Ojo was slowly given more game time as the season came to a close, featuring in seven of the Reds’ last eight games.
Prior to all that, last summer the winger took part in a Q&A video on the club’s official website, in which he opened up about his football idols and nicknames as a youngster. As today marks his 19th birthday, the club have released the video clip again, with Ojo speaking during their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia.
“My nickname growing up was Ronaldinho,” he said. When posed the question who his idols were in the game, he added: “My football idols have been Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.”
In his eight Premier League appearances this term, Ojo created 12 chances and won 53% of his average duels, with an average pass accuracy of 86% and a shot accuracy of 50%.
As for Liverpool, they endured an inconsistent campaign under Klopp, losing two major cup finals to Manchester City and Sevilla while finishing eighth in the league, six points adrift of the top four. As a result, the club won’t be playing European football next season, but that could work to their advantage.
With fewer games to play, Klopp’s focus will firmly be on the Premier League, and as shown by the signings of Loris Karius, Joel Matip and Marko Grujic this summer he’s looking to strengthen his squad. The Reds begin their league campaign with a trip to Arsenal, before facing Burnley in their first home game.
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