Liverpool wonderkid Rio Ngumoha drops BOMBSHELL in rare interview

Liverpool’s youth movement has been a joy to watch unfold so far this season.

Tyler Morton was retained and is beginning to be integrated into the first team squad. Trey Nyoni has now made multiple Champions League matchday squad appearances. Amara Nallo has made headlines with his captaincies in the UEFA Youth League.

And that’s just in the youth teams. Ben Doak, Owen Beck and Lewis Koumas are all excelling in loan moves to Championship clubs, creating much excitement for their return to the Reds.

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Perhaps the biggest youth story of the season so far, however, was the signing of Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea.

The 16-year-old is one of most highly-touted youth prospects in the world, recently featuring on The Guardian’s 'Next Generation 2024' list.

The youngster started well, grabbing an assist in a 2-2 draw against Leeds United under-18s last month and has been seen training with the first team already, with a view to joining the under-19s team in their UEFA Youth League campaign.

The signing itself has also proven controversial as Chelsea have subsequently rejected Liverpool’s applications to watch their youth team games. The move has been seen as childish backlash for Liverpool’s legitimate approach for the youngster.

Ngumoha sets his sights on best in the world

In an interview with Lovell Soccer for their 'Inside the Academy' series, Ngumoha has now declared that his ultimate goal in football would be to win the Ballon d’Or.

"I think for me, we're all believing that I can win the Ballon d'Or.” Ngumoha answered, “I want to be regarded as one of the best players to ever play football and yeah, be a legend in the game."

This is a timely comment by Ngumoha, given the Ballon d’Or ceremony coming yesterday and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s recent comment that he would like to be the first full-back to win the award.

It’s a seismic goal by such a young player and demonstrates the level of extreme confidence that he has in himself. His talent level already suggests he can and the sky truly is the limit.

His winning the Ballon d’Or would be a tremendous achievement by everyone at the club. But we’d also settle for a hattrick in a Merseyside Derby.

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