Nantes goalkeeper Anthony Lopes has revealed he could have joined Liverpool last summer but rejected it to stay at former club Lyon.
Foot Mercato cover comments from the 34-year-old today in which he admits he had the opportunity to join Liverpool if he was willing to be number two behind Alisson Becker.
The goalkeeper joined Nantes at the beginning of January after spending his entire career with Lyon before then.
He joined the French side as a youngster and went on to spend the next 19 years with them, making 489 appearances before departing at the beginning of January.
It seems that separation could have come much sooner, though, as Liverpool made him an offer last year that he ultimately turned down.
“Did I say no to becoming Liverpool’s number two? Yes, in June, I said no,” he said.
“I’ll be very clear: I didn’t have that option in mind at all. I told myself that I had to keep playing, that I had fire in my legs, and that I couldn’t put my bum on the bench, even if it was at Liverpool, Bayern, or elsewhere.
“But I’ll be very clear: if this offer had come at the end of August, just before the end of the transfer window, I would have accepted it, I would have left, I would have put my bum on the bench, and I would have shut my mouth.”
Whether that’s the end of Liverpool’s interest remains to be seen. They’re still well stocked for goalkeepers with Alisson as number one, Caoimhín Kelleher a capable second choice and Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving in the summer from Valencia.
The Georgian is expected to take the number one mantle next season and there have been rumours that both Alisson and Kelleher could move on as well.
Perhaps that could lead to another call to Lopes, who it seems regrets the decision somewhat now he’s left Lyon anyway.
