Duelund flattered by Liverpool link
Mikkel Duelund has admitted that he was "excited" to be linked with several top clubs, including Liverpool, last summer.
The Midtjylland youngster confessed that a major team failed to lure him away from Denmark last summer but would not be drawn on the identity of the team.
However, the Reds were linked with a move for the attacking midfielder after he scored and assisted against their U21 team during a friendly in which he played for Denmark U20.
Duelund, though, says he felt his best option was to remain with the Europa League hopefuls, who meet Manchester United on Thursday.
"I can’t comment on specific names of clubs, but when I learned about the interest of a great club last summer, I got pretty excited and took is as a very nice compliment," he told Goal.
"There has been different rumours linking me to many big clubs, but last summer I was completely sure that I wanted to stay with FC Midtjylland for at least one more year.
"I was sure that this was the right place for me to stay and play regular first-team senior football at a good domestic level with European games as well. Most importantly, it has allowed me to develop myself.
"At 18 I am well aware of the fact that I need to take some big steps forward to get to the level, where I want to be in the future.”
The 18-year-old has made strong progress in the intervening period. He has been called into the Denmark U21 training squad and has scored in three competitions for Midtjylland, including a Champions League qualifier.
And while he is content with this progress, he is still hungry for more.
"I have a lot of confidence in myself, and I didn’t want to go abroad to a big club and then maybe risk being pushed back to be playing in a U19 team again.
"I know I am not the finished article at 18, but I have opened my goal account on senior level and just want to continue down that road."
Midtjylland has proven to be a rich breeding ground for young players in the past, with Winston Reid and Simon Kjaer among the players they have previously developed.
Source: Goal.com
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