Having spent five years in China with Jiangsu Suning, Alex Teixeira returned to Europe in the summer when he completed a move to Beşiktaş.
Before moving to China in 2016, Liverpool showed interest in the forward, when he was at Shakhtar Donetsk. The Reds were keen to sign the Brazilian back then, but the deal never took shape.
Reports from Ukraine had then indicated the Merseyside club were not willing to meet the demands set by Shakhtar Donetsk. There were even suggestions the 31-year-old snubbed Jürgen Klopp’s side to avail the better financial deal in China.
It’s been over a month since the South American arrived in Istanbul, and Teixeira and his compatriot, Josef de Souza, have given an interview to A Spor.
The former Liverpool target has revealed why a move to Anfield never materialled, when explaining his decision to join Beşiktaş.
“I was training in Brazil. Josef convinced me. He could be a good manager in the future. Josef and I know each other. There were much better offers but both the Champions League and this close friendship brought us together at Besiktas,” Teixeira said.
“When I left Shakhtar it was advertised as if I had chosen the money over the Premier League. The Premier League is the best league in the world.
“Unfortunately, the negotiations with Liverpool had come to a dead end and Liverpool gave up. While I was disappointed with this, good offer came from China.
“The offer from China was one I couldn’t refuse. I made a completely rational decision.”
Teixeira, however, didn’t provide specific details over why the negotiations between Liverpool and Shakhtar Donetsk didn’t progress well in 2016.
