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Former Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton has opened up on how his exit came about this summer after a superb start to life with Lyon in Ligue 1.
Morton has played eight times for his new club, including twice in Europe, and has already scored his first goal in France. The Liverpool academy graduate has settled in straight away under Paulo Fonseca.
Now, Morton has explained why he had to leave Liverpool — and how he could have moved on a year earlier after a call from then-Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, only for Arne Slot to insist on him sticking around for another 12 months.
"It’s a funny story," Morton told Sport Bible. "I was on a golf course with my mates at the time. I got a text from my agent, who said: 'Xabi Alonso’s going to call you soon'.
"I’d heard about the move but didn’t speak about it too much because I’d been told I wasn’t leaving Liverpool. I’d just hit a nice drive and was on for my first par of the day.
"I had to bin it off, but it was definitely worth it! [Alonso] told me how highly he rates me as a player. They wanted to sign me.
"They (Bayer Leverkusen) came in quite late that summer, but I spoke to the manager (Arne Slot) about it and Liverpool wanted me to stay. I spoke to my agent, and we were pushing a move, but it was difficult.
"Liverpool told me I couldn’t leave at the time, which was fair enough, but if you want to go and play, then you’ve got to push it. I asked the manager.
"He was open with me and said he was going to keep me around. Nothing was going to change his mind. He needed me around the team as back-up.
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"Some players have to take that role, and that’s the role he decided for me. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t ideal. I wanted to be starting games. If that was at Liverpool — the club I love — then incredible. But it wasn’t going to be.
"The emotion definitely came when I got to Lyon. I understood that’s what happens in football. I had to leave to get the best out of myself."
Morton could be in action today when Lyon plays Nice. A win for Fonseca's men will take them above PSG, who could only draw 3-3 with Strasbourg yesterday.
Liverpool.com says: Morton is a really talented player but getting regular minutes at Anfield wasn't likely because of the other options there to select. In France, he has started very well — and it shouldn't be a surprise.
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