Liverpool and Barcelona negotiations were ‘impossible’ as summer deal collapsed

Luis Diaz was desperate to leave Liverpool this summer and had his heart set on a move to Barcelona, but the Reds refused to sell the Colombian forward before later striking a deal with Bayern Munich

Barcelona sporting director Deco has accused Liverpool of making a potential deal for forward Luis Diaz “impossible.” The La Liga side saw their approach be rebuffed by the Reds back in June, with the Premier League champions making it clear the Colombian wasn’t available for transfer.

But the 28-year-old went on to secure a £65.5million move to Bayern Munich just one month later. It later emerged Diaz – a lifelong Barcelona supporter – had requested to leave Anfield after failing to reach an agreement on fresh terms with Liverpool and being refused an exit the previous summer.

Following their missed opportunity with Diaz, Barcelona instead brought in Marcus Rashford on a temporary deal from Manchester United.

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The England international was among just three new signings at Barca this summer, alongside keeper Joan Garcia (€25m) and teenage striker Roony Bardghji (€2m), as the club continues wrestling with well-publicised financial constraints.

Despite being potentially priced out of any Diaz deal due to these money troubles, Deco has insisted Liverpool made it ‘impossible’ for Barcelona to secure the unsettled attacker’s services.

Deco said to Mundo Deportivo: “Looking at last season’s squad, we were missing something there (in attack). We thought Ansu (Fati) would fill that role.

“We thought Ansu (Fati) would fill that role. He started pre-season well, but then things didn’t go his way, and he also suffered injuries that made things very difficult for him.

“He could play on the left wing and as a number nine, providing those solutions. But we lacked that profile in the squad.

“Luis Diaz fit this, Rashford fit, and then it’s a matter of negotiation. On the other side, there’s a club, and they’re at a very high level. You’re talking about Liverpool and United.

“With Diaz, Liverpool were pretty tough from the first minute, refusing to sell him. It’s even more complicated that way, just like if they come to us and we don’t want to put a player on the market. Luis’s move, it turned out, would be impossible.

“These are market factors, but there’s no such thing as a plan A, B, or C, although the press thinks it’s normal. When we analyse the players, we know what they can contribute. From there, the negotiations will lead you to get what you’re looking for, or not, but the profile was defined.”

Diaz recently acknowledged he had held discussions with Barcelona, but expressed no remorse about choosing Bayern instead. After Bayern beat Chelsea in the Champions League, Diaz said to Movistar: “Colombians always support me.

“Today I saw the national team flags and my shirt, and I’m very happy for all the support. 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. It’s a great group, a great family. So, nothing, just try to give my all.”

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