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Luis Diaz looks set to stay at Liverpool this summer, despite interest from Barcelona(Image: Getty Images)

Luis Diaz has reaffirmed his commitment to Liverpool, rejecting advances from Barcelona in a move that underscores the Reds' newfound dominance in the transfer market.

Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Javier Mascherano all traded Merseyside for Catalonia, with their dreams of donning the Blaugrana shirt proving irresistible.

So frequent were these raids that Liverpool, stung by Coutinho's £142million departure in 2018, inserted a cunning £90m premium clause into the deal, forcing Barcelona to pay a hefty surcharge for any future Anfield signings.



This stipulation meant that the club would have to pay an additional £90m on top of any agreed transfer fee for future Liverpool players.

The clause only lasted until the end of the 2019/20 season, but it was a defensive measure born of necessity, a way to protect their stars from the Spanish giants' grasp.

Diaz, who has two years remaining on his Liverpool deal, has made it clear he has no intention of leaving Merseyside, even if a contract extension isn't agreed this summer.

"I'm very happy at Liverpool - I've always said so.

Diaz's contentment at Liverpool is a testament to the club's resurgence under Arne Slot, who guided the Reds to just their second Premier League title last month.

Liverpool no longer need to fear Barcelona pinching their best players, as they did with Philippe Coutinho in 2018(Image: Getty Images)

Diaz contributed 17 goals and eight assists in 50 appearances across the season - his best return since joining from Porto in 2022.

In his autobiography 'My Story', Gerrard correctly predicted Barcelona would go after Coutinho, and reckoned Liverpool might find it "tricky" to keep hold of the Brazilian because "the lure of going to [Barcelona or Real Madrid] is so strong for any South American player."

But Diaz appears to have resisted the urge, even in spite of Barcelona's La Liga-winning campaign and the high-octane football they were showcasing in the Champions League prior to their semi-final exit at the hands of Inter Milan.

Luis Diaz finished the 2024/25 season Liverpool's second-top scorer behind Mo Salah(Image: AP)Article continues below

The £90m premium clause from the Coutinho deal is now a relic of a bygone era, a reminder of when Liverpool had to fend off Barcelona's advances with contractual ingenuity.