OPINION
As far as promising partnerships go, you’d struggle to find one as impressive as Paul Glatzel and Bobby Duncan’s for Liverpool’s youth sides last term.
The pair were scintillating last season, hitting a combined 46 goals between them, and chalking up a further 12 goals.
All the signs were that the duo were destined for the first team, and given how well they performed, it wasn’t too far-fetched to think that they could have risen through the ranks together.
When Duncan was then given a nod to feature in the Reds’ preseason clash with Tranmere Rovers, it looked as if everything was going to plan.
Since then, however, the wheels have come off pretty quickly.
Glatzel is out at the moment with a cruciate ligament rupture, but has reportedly agreed terms on a new deal with the Reds, as per Football Insider.
But as for Duncan, things are much less positive.
The teenage striker joined Fiorentina on Monday, as confirmed by the Reds via their official website.
His exit, so unimaginable even a couple of months ago, came in the aftermath of allegations from Duncan’s agent, Saif Rubie, that the club had been bullying his client, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
After that debacle, his departure gathered pace very quickly.
But nonetheless, the Kop will no doubt be gutted to see him go.
And their disappointment will have been amplified after Glatzel took the time to send an Instagram message to his former partner in crime.
Commenting on a post to Duncan’s personal Instagram, the German youth international said simply: “Good luck”, followed by two fingers crossed emojis.
It may not be the most verbose message, but in those two words, Liverpool fans might just have seen something really special ended for good.
