Rumored Liverpool transfer target Julio Soler was one of the stars of the group stages at the 2024 Olympics in Paris after helping Argentina secure a place in the quarter-finals with a second-placed finish in Group B.
The 19-year-old left-back had started all three games for his nation on its way to the knockout stages and even grabbed an assist against Morocco in an eventful opening match in Saint-Etienne. Soler then played 60 minutes of the 3-1 victory over Iraq in the following game, before helping to keep a clean sheet in the 2-0 win against Ukraine in the final group match.
As a result of his early performances for Javier Mascherano's side, the youngster is being strongly touted with a move to Anfield , with reports from his homeland claiming the Reds are set to open talks with his current club, Lanus, over a transfer this week .
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But had Argentina still been competing in the tournament, those talks may well have been delayed for another week. However, as it happened, the Olympics ended in heartbreak for the young South American, following a brutal decision from his manager and former Liverpool hero, Mascherano.
Despite starting all three group games as Argentina's left-back, Soler was dropped for the quarter-final clash with hosts France in Bordeaux. With his side 1-0 down at the break, however, Mascherano sought a change and brought on Soler in place of Marco Di Cesare.
Soler quickly settled into his natural left-back role and looked all set to tackle the challenge ahead, yet it would last just 31 minutes before the former Liverpool player hauled him off in place of striker Luciano Gondou as Argentina desperately searched for a goal.
The decision left Soler "in tears" and footage captured by Ole showed him being consoled by the entire bench as he walked off the field after just half an hour of action, having been treated incredibly harshly by Mascherano. In the end, France held on for a 1-0 win and advanced to the semi-finals.
But the rumored Liverpool target would be right to feel incredibly hard done by, having excelled for his nation in their opening three games of the tournament. However, having since returned to his homeland, good things could be just around the corner for the 19-year-old.
Reports in Argentina initially claimed that a formal offer is likely to be made by the Reds in the coming days, with Soler's current club Lanus aid to have placed a $15million (£12m/€13.7m) price tag on the left-back.
However, the ECHO have since confirmed that those reports are somewhat premature and that there are no immediate plans for Liverpool to make a move for the Argentine left-back.
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