Former Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder says Liverpool made a "big mistake" last summer, while also claiming that Xabi Alonso has "flirted" with the Reds while out of work
Ian Doyle Chief Liverpool FC Writer and Matt Addison Liverpool FC Reporter
15:36, 12 May 2026
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Liverpool has been told that it committed "one very big mistake" by allowing Luis Diaz to depart last summer — while Xabi Alonso has faced criticism for supposedly courting the Reds despite Arne Slot remaining at the helm.
Diaz played a crucial role in Liverpool securing a record-equaling 20th league title last season before his $85 million (£65 million) transfer to Bayern Munich.
While the Reds have since found it difficult to fill the void left by the winger and endured a disappointing title defense, the Colombian has been in exceptional form for Bayern Munich, propelling them to the Bundesliga championship and the Champions League semi-finals.
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Former Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder believes that, whatever the circumstances surrounding Diaz's exit, Liverpool ought to have retained the player.
"I hope for Liverpool and Arne Slot that things improve," he said. "He made one very big mistake: selling Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich. If there's one thing to criticize, that's it.
"He's amazing. A great player. But there were probably reasons behind it as well. We are not there every day with the team or the financial department.
"Maybe they needed to sell him. But as an outsider looking at Liverpool and seeing Diaz perform at Bayern Munich, that's difficult for me to understand."
Luis Diaz of Bayern Munich
Former Liverpool star Luis Diaz has been prolific since joining Bayern Munich(Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Liverpool boss Slot has faced significant pressure this term. His side is yet to mathematically confirm Champions League soccer with two fixtures left in the campaign.
Despite the Reds' owners, Fenway Sports Group, continuing to back their head coach, former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has been persistently linked with taking over from Slot since being dismissed by Real Madrid in January.
And Sneijder claimed: "When Xabi Alonso got sacked, he was already directly flirting with Liverpool and I don't believe that is very beautiful because Arne Slot is doing a great job at Liverpool.
"They had a tough season, and there were a lot of things that happened at the club and we all know what happened at the beginning of the season which hurt them a lot.
"It may have given them these performances. In the beginning, they were not performing the way they did the year before and that was really hard.
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"But they always kept fighting, in the league and in the Champions League as well. It was a tough season, but I don't know if you should directly change the coach. Arne Slot is a nice guy, a good coach, and he has done great things there."
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Speaking to Hard Rock Bet, Sneijder added: "But that's football. When results are not there, there's always one person responsible because you cannot sack 15 players. It's always easier to sack one coach and start again with another one.
"After two weeks, everybody forgets you. That's what happened with Jurgen Klopp. The day he left was amazing with all the celebrations, but after two weeks, they were all cheering for Arne Slot. That's football."
Liverpool.com says: Selling Diaz made sense for a variety of reasons. The Reds got a good price for a player of his age, and he only had a couple of years left on his contract. He has been missed, though, and he will need to be replaced this summer.