Bobby Duncan was given a harsh reality check in a training session with the Liverpool first-team ahead of his move to Italy to join Fiorentina.
The young forward, who is Steven Gerrard's cousin, leaves Anfield amid claims from his agent Saif Rubie that the club had bullied him and 'damaged the teenager's mental health'. Liverpool have rejected the accusations.
While Duncan will now attempt to break into the first-team at the Serie A side, the Daily Mail reported that a training session during the Reds' pre-season tour of the USA convinced the club to let him go and also showed Duncan how far he had to go before becoming part of the first-team.
Initially pre-season had started well for Duncan, and he scored during a 6-0 win against Tranmere Rovers in July.
However, during the training session in the Notre Dame University in Indiana Duncan didn't impress quite as much.
He allegedly missed three glorious chances, first shooting straight at goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan after being put through one-on-one, then missing another good chance and finally being muscled off the ball by James Milner when he was about to shoot.
It is thought that this underwhelming display was enough to convince Jurgen Klopp and his fellow coaches that Duncan didn't yet have what it takes to break into the senior squad, and also made Duncan realise he would have to move on in pursuit of regular senior football.
It remains to be seen whether the player can make an immediate impression at Fiorentina, with the club languishing down in 16th place in Serie A having lost their first two games of the season.
Duncan was one of the best players in Liverpool U-18's FA Youth Cup win last season yet things have turned sour since then amid contract disputes and his agent's outburst on Twitter .
.jpg?w=600)
