Stefan Bajcetic has expressed his pride at signing a new Liverpool contract - and explained the "crazy story" that has helped him forge a close bond with Thiago Alcantara.
Bajcetic's breakthrough season with the Reds has been rewarded with the 18-year-old penning a new improved contract on Thursday that has extended his Anfield commitment to the summer of 2027.
The midfielder, who arrived from Celta Vigo in February 2021, made his first career Premier League start in the goalless draw at home to Chelsea last Saturday and is in contention to keep his place for the FA Cup fourth round clash at Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
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He made the step up from the Academy to the first team during the pre-season tour to the Far East last summer and, after being handed a senior debut from the bench in the 9-0 Premier League romp over Bournemouth at Anfield in August, has gone on to feature in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
And on signing his new deal, Bajcetic said: "Obviously I’m so, so happy, so excited to keep playing for this club and hopefully I can play more years together. Me and my family are very proud to sign a new contract with this club.
"Last season when we were playing under-18s, some games in the U21s, we knew some of the staff were watching the games, and I had some training that season with the first team. Obviously then I went to pre-season – me and my team-mates – and that was the time we worked harder and we were close to the first team. I think that was the moment they chose me to stay.
"I was happy with how I did (on tour). The games we played, I was very happy, I played some good games. Obviously there's moments when you're not that good but that's always like that. I was very happy with the pre-season."
Bajcetic has been taken under the wing of fellow Spaniard Thiago, who played for the same academy team in Vigo earlier in his career. Their two fathers - former Serbia international Srdan Bacjetic and Brazil World Cup winner Mazinho - played together for Celta in the 1990s.
"To be fair, it's a crazy story because I also played in a very, very little academy back in Vigo, the city where I was born – we played in the same little academy," Bajcetic told liverpoolfc.com.
"When I told him I played in this academy, he was like, 'wow!'. It's unbelievable, this story. I think my dad hasn't talked with his dad (about it) but it's crazy to think about how small that town was and look at where we are now.
"Not only Thiago but Millie as well helps me a lot. He's like a coach inside the changing room and he always gives me some tips and tries to help me all the time. That's very helpful for me."
Bajcetic began his Liverpool career as a defender but has prospered since being pushed further upfield when with the U18s.
And he added: "Obviously it's a difficult transition from centre-back to midfield. I used to play a little bit as a midfielder back in the day but I always played centre-back. But then Bridgey (Marc Bridge-Wilkinson), the U18s coach, put me there in midfield and in the first games it was difficult. But with time I got used to it and I'm very comfortable there."
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