Probably the best right-back of the 21st Century, Dani Alves, has described just how close he was to becoming a Liverpool player.
The Brazilian was at Sevilla in 2006 when Rafa Benitez came calling, with Liverpool’s manager desperate to upgrade on Jan Kromkamp and Steven Finnan.
However, our owners refused to sanction the money it would have cost and the fullback would stay in Seville for two more years before joining Barcelona – where he became an integral part of the best club team ever under Pep Guardiola.
“I pretty much had an agreement with Liverpool,” he told FourFourTwo.
“But for whatever reason it didn’t happen at the last moment and I really don’t know why, as I wasn’t the one conducting the negotiations.
“I had other people representing me back then.
“Something similar happened later in my career with Chelsea and Real Madrid.
“Of course, it all worked out happily for the Cules (Barcelona fans) in the end, and also for me as I was able to write an amazing story at the Camp Nou instead.”
For Barca, Alves won six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues. He also won an Italian double with Juventus last term and looks set to sweep the board with PSG this.
Asked if he had unfinished business in the Premier League, Alves hinted that a future move is possible.
“I still have this ambition, yes,” he added. “But I don’t know if it will happen now.
“I think there are plenty of things to do here first with PSG.”
Any Liverpool fan who doesn’t think Alves would still walk into our side is deluded. He’s an incredible offensive athlete and his technical ability is incredible.
He now joins a list which includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Laudrup and Alexis Sanchez of player Liverpool nearly signed…