Dani Ceballos was linked with a move to Liverpool from 2015 until he moved on loan to Arsenal in the 2019 summer transfer window.
Ceballos was first rumoured to be of interest to Liverpool back in 2015 when he was at Real Betis and coming towards a free transfer. The Merseyside club were said to have offered the youngster a house, car, and €1.5m a year in wages.
Last summer it was reported in Spain that Liverpool were keen on signing the midfielder on a permanent deal, and there were even claims he could be the club’s new Xabi Alonso.
However, Real Madrid wanted a buyback clause in any permanent deal and, naturally, the Reds weren’t so keen.
The Arsenal loan then happened, with Ceballos convinced of the move by Unai Emery. Since then the 23 year old has been hit by injury and seen Emery depart the Gunners.
Speaking to Marca during the current winter break, he was asked why he didn’t move to Liverpool last summer, and told the Spanish newspaper that he felt Arsenal suited him better: “That a club like Liverpool loves you is a pride, but my decision was to go to Arsenal because Emery grabbed my hand and told me to go together.
“Klopp is a great coach but you have to see the game philosophy of each team. Right now players of my philosophy of play wouldn’t fit in a team like Liverpool in the best possible way. But that you are related to the greats is because you are doing things right.”
That’s a very heavy suggestion from Ceballos that he turned Liverpool down, which is perhaps exaggerating things a little. Had Jurgen Klopp been seriously keen then he would surely have seen a role for the player.
