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Former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz has admitted that he held talks with Barcelona about a possible move to the Camp Nou this summer before he eventually opted to sign for Bayern Munich.
Diaz had wanted to leave Liverpool in the summer of 2024. Instead, he stayed at Anfield and scored 17 goals for Arne Slot's side, helping it to win the Premier League title.
A year on, Diaz pushed to leave again, and this time got his wish. The Colombian, who was bought by Liverpool from FC Porto in 2022, moved to Bayern Munich for a fee of around $88 million (£66 million).
Diaz was regularly linked with Barcelona, and the Spanish giant had an approach rejected by Liverpool earlier in the summer.
After that, he still wanted to leave and Bayern Munich was able to offer a substantial transfer fee for a 28-year-old with two years left on his deal.
"Colombians always support me," Diaz told Movistar after helping Bayern Munich beat Chelsea in the Champions League. "Today I saw the national team flags and my shirt, and I'm very happy for all the support. I'm very happy to be at this great club.
"There were conversations [with Barcelona] 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 joined a big club. It's a great group, a great family. So, nothing, just try to give my all."
Diaz has started well in Germany and has already scored four goals in six games for his new club.
However, Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus was blunt with his verdict when the South American arrived.
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"Diaz is a good player, but he wasn't the first choice for this position," Matthaus said. "We also received rejections, and Max Eberl (the Bayern sporting director) mustn't forget that.
"You can't just sit back and relax in your job anyway. There are still things you'd like to do, both on one side and the other."
Liverpool.com says: Diaz was very good for the Reds last season, but it was the right time to move on for both parties. Offering a player of his age a contract extension would not have been wise, while there needed to be room to bring in the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.
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