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Since Fabio Borini arrived at Liverpool, fans have become accustomed to updates on the striker’s situation from agent Marco De Marchi. Typically they have to do with people asking the 23-year-old Italian’s agent whether Borini plans to move on from Liverpool in this or the next transfer window. Invariably, De Marchi says Borini is happy at Liverpool and going nowhere.
It’s perhaps not what one expects to hear from the agent of a player who can hardly get a minute and whose career prospects would seem best suited by finding a new, permanent home and some playing time, but so far De Marchi has been entirely honest and upfront about Borini’s plans. And so far, Borini has stayed at Liverpool, turning down multiple offers to move on to other clubs and perhaps play as a regular starter along the way.
"Borini will not return to Italy in January," was De Marchi’s latest update when the agent was interviewed by SportItalia this week and was asked whether Borini had any plans to move on from the Reds and perhaps return to Italy after having spent the bulk of his career, from the time he first joined the Chelsea youth system in 2007, bouncing from one club to another in England. "He’s happy at Liverpool."
Liverpool received offers in the £12-14M range for Borini over the summer from Sunderland and QPR, and in both cases the player dug in his heels and refused to agree personal terms to stall the deals. Since then, he has been largely frozen out by Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, and while he has at times looked a useful squad player when given the chance, he has not appeared a player deserving of starting minutes.
In retrospect, it would appear as though he should have agreed to move on six months ago, with the Sunderland offer—and a manager in Gus Poyet who clearly valued him—the standout. Yet not only does Borini appear not to regret passing on those chances, but if another opportunity to move on this month arose, it seems he wouldn’t be especially eager to take it, preferring to remain out of favour and at Liverpool.
