LIVERPOOL star Dominik Szoboszlai was left horrified after watching a gruesome statue made in his honour be unveiled.
But the Hungarian midfielder took it on the chin when it was revealed as a prank.
Szoboszlai became the unwitting star of an elaborate April Fool’s Day prank set up by Hungary’s leading telecommunications company.
The 24-year-old attended what he believed to be a low-key event to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his partnership with Telekom.
But he was greeted with a scary life-sized statue that didn’t resemble him at all.
Gazing upon a huge, glistening chin, deformed cheeks and a monstrous quiff, the Hungary captain had every right to be shocked.
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To rub salt into his wounds, the sculpture was made up of junk – mainly 1,200 smashed up mobile phones, which was meant to promote the company’s electronic waste recycling initiative.
Footage from Telekom’s YouTube channel captured Szoboszlai’s candid reaction – which went from glee to misery in seconds.
But despite his obvious fury, the Hungary captain took it in his stride and stood next to the tin-pot figure to take pictures.
The Prem star was then summoned into a separate room, where he gave a more honest reaction to his two pals.
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After being asked if he liked it, Szoboszlai said: “No. I was this close to walking out. I only stayed because I respect you.
“I don’t think this has ever happened before, to do something without asking.”
The trio then turned and spotted a variety of merchandise, including the statue’s distorted face on mugs and T-shirts.
Szoboszlai then hilariously quipped: “This looks nothing like me. It looks like my a** turned inside out.”
The presenters behind the prank were in hysterics while watching his reaction on cameras back stage.
The former RB Leipzig star then returned to the main room to find out that a giant version of the statue would be placed at a busy intersection in the city.
He was also made to believe that it would be floated down the River Danube on a barge on Hungary‘s national holiday on August 20.
His face was a picture throughout before Telekom unveiled the major prank.
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Meanwhile, Szoboszlai has been a key figure for Liverpool this season.
He has started 23 of his 28 games available this term, scoring five goals and providing four assists, as the Reds close in on the title in Arne Slot’s first season at the helm.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
