Luis Diaz has admitted he held talks with Barcelona prior to joining Bayern Munich from Liverpool
Former Liverpool star Luis Diaz is interviewed after helping Bayern Munich beat Chelsea
(Image: Movistar)
Luis Diaz has admitted he held transfer talks with Barcelona prior to leaving Liverpool this summer. The Colombian, who helped fire the Reds to the Premier League title last season, joined Bayern Munich in a deal worth up to £65.5m and has enjoyed an explosive start to life in Germany.
He scored the winner on his debut for the Bavarians as they beat VfB Stuttgart to win the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.
The forward then followed that up with a goal and two assists on his Bundesliga debut against RB Leipzig, while he now has four goals and two assists from his first six outings for Bayern.
Diaz had wanted to leave Liverpool last summer with Man City reportedly his destination of choice. While they are said to have proposed a swap deal for Julian Alvarez, their title-rivals rejected the suggestion prompting the Reds to shut down the possibility of the forward moving to the Etihad.
Going on to return 17 goals and five assists for Liverpool to help Arne Slot’s side win the Premier League title, Diaz again pushed to leave this summer after failing to agree a new contract with the Reds.
A boyhood Barcelona fan, he has regularly been linked with the Catalans in recent years and the Spanish giants even had an approach rejected by Liverpool back in June.
But despite their interest, Barca failed to make a renewed bid for Diaz, leaving the pathway open for Bayern Munich to sign him, as they moved for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on loan instead.
Diaz has now admitted that he did hold talks with Barcelona and a number of other clubs. But despite his childhood allegiances to the Catalans, he has no regrets about signing for Bayern instead.
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"Colombians always support me. Today I saw the national team flags and my shirt, and I'm very happy for all the support,” he told to Movistar after helping Bayern beat Chelsea. “Very happy to be at this great club.
“There were conversations (with Barca), as there are throughout the transfer market, with several teams. That's what always drives the market, but I'm very calm about this decision.
“I decided objectively about what was coming for my future, and the important thing is that I join a big club.
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“It's a great group, a great family. So, nothing, just try to give my all."