Salford City, who are co-owned by Manhcester United legends David Beckham and Gary Neville, have signed former Liverpool forward Fabio Borini.
David Beckham has not shied away from bringing in Liverpool influences at both of his co-owned clubs despite his status as a Manchester United legend - signing yet another player with strong ties to his old club's arch-rivals. The ex-England midfielder is the president and co-owner of MLS franchise Inter Miami, as well as a co-owner of League Two side Salford City.
Inter Miami appointed ex-Liverpool ace Javier Mascherano as their gaffer in November 2024, with the Argentine already guiding them to secure a spot in the end-of-season play-offs. Former Liverpool hero Luis Suarez is one of Inter Miami's key players, meanwhile - with the Uruguayan frontman netting 17 goals and providing 16 assists in all competitions this season.
However, the Liverpool connection isn't confined to Inter Miami, as there's also a significant former Reds presence at Salford - despite its links to United through Beckham and fellow co-owner Gary Neville. One-time Liverpool youth coach Karl Robinson is the current head coach at Salford, having taken up the role in January 2024, while the Ammies snapped-up former Liverpool prodigy Ben Woodburn at the beginning of last season.
Once the youngest ever goal-scorer for the Reds, before Rio Ngumoha's winner against Newcastle United in August, the versatile Welsh international has chalked up five goals and nine assists from 50 appearances since joining the club. But former Liverpool player Fabio Borini has now also joined Ben Woodburn at Salford City in a surprise move, after the League Two club announced his signing on Friday.
The ex-Italy international has signed a short-term deal with Salford, following a successful training period with the first team over the past month. He had been without a club since leaving Sampdoria last summer.
Having previously played for Chelsea, AS Roma and AC Milan, as well as Liverpool, Borini's move to a League Two side came as a surprise to many observers. However, the forward, who was named as a substitute for Saturday's match against Oldham Athletic, has shed light on his decision to join Salford.
Speaking to the club's in-house media, he said: "It's been great. I came in to train to keep myself fit in this transition between contracts," he told club media. "And Salford, the gaffer, Alex Bruce were kind enough to allow me to use the facilities and train here.
"Experience is one thing that I can bring, but it's not just about the experience that I have on the pitch. It's outside of the pitch so leading by example in training, outside training, how to manage a game.
"I've never played League Two football, so I need to learn as well from my team-mates the main characteristics of this league, but I will bring myself as an open book for my team mates to use me, learn from me or help me, so I'm very open to this challenge.
"It's a challenge I'm embracing and I chose to embrace because I needed the real football, something that warms my heart for football, not for anything else."
Borini, who previously formed an attacking partnership with Suarez at Liverpool, arrived at Anfield in a £10.5m transfer from Roma in July 2012. The striker found the net on his Anfield bow in the Europa League, although he failed to establish himself at Anfield.
The 34-year-old managed just three goals and three assists across 38 outings for the Merseyside club overall before departing for Sunderland in a £10m switch in August 2014 - having already spent the 2013/14 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light after falling down the pecking order following the arrivals of Daniel Sturridge and Iago Aspas.