Ex-Liverpool wonderkid compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi now available for free

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The Serb was once compared to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by one Premier League boss but never hit the heights expected of him.Now 32, Markovic is available once again after it was confirmed he's left Apollon Limassol following the expiration of his one-year deal. Having helped oversee some of his development at Partizan Belgrade prior to him joining Benfica, the journeyman tactician spared no expense in his praise.Grant said of his former charge at the time: "I can say that apart from Ronaldo and Messi, Markovic is one of the best talents I've ever seen at 19 years of age."In the end, Markovic scored only three goals in 34 senior outings for the Reds during his five-year stay on Merseyside.

It wasn't long after his move from Lisbon in 2014 that the Ivorian said he was impressed by what he'd seen."I am very proud of Markovic," said Toure in December 2014. "Since he came here, he hasn't had a lot of chances to play, but he's shown great character and worked hard in training.

He instead moved back to Belgrade with Partizan that summer, where he enjoyed a brief resurgence over the next three seasons.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! His next move will see him complete the sixth free transfer of his career if he does continue, an unexpected trajectory for a talent once mentioned in the same breath as some of the sport's biggest names.Buy Blood Red, our monthly Liverpool FC print publication for just £3.50 by clicking hereChoose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCLazar MarkovicLiverpool FC transfer newsCristiano RonaldoLionel MessiBrendan Rodgers