I wanted to sign world-class Liverpool player - He was a priority but our situation was woeful

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Former Barcelona manager Xavi has admitted that he tried to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool during his time in the Camp Nou hotseatXavi has revealed he failed in an attempt to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool during his time as Barcelona manager. The Colombian left the Reds to sign for Bayern Munich last summer, departing in a £65.5m deal after failing to agree on an improved contract at Anfield.He had also been subject of interest from Barcelona, who had an enquiry rejected by Liverpool back in June as the Reds insisted that the forward was not for sale.However, that stance later changed as Diaz made it clear he wanted to move on, with Bayern’s persistence ultimately paying off for the Bundesliga giants.READ MORE: Notorious Everton loanee 'built nightclub' inside home of Liverpool starWhile Barcelona missed out on the 28-year-old’s signature as a result, this summer was not the first time they had been denied in their pursuit of the forward.Xavi has now revealed that he considered Diaz a ‘priority’ signing during his stint in the Camp Nou hotseat, but conceded a move was ‘impossible’ at the time because of Barcelona’s ‘woeful’ financial situation.“It (our interest in Diaz) was real, but the economic situation was woeful,” he told Gol Caracol.

A winger with blazing speed, a goalscorer, an assist-maker and a hard worker.”Xavi took over as Barcelona manager in November 2021, two months before Diaz joined Liverpool from FC Porto in a deal worth up to £49m.He led the Catalans to the La Liga title in the 2022/23 season, but left the following summer after a trophyless campaign.Barcelona were regularly linked with Diaz throughout his time at Anfield, while the forward is well-documented to be a boyhood fan of the club.While Xavi might rue missing out on the Colombian during his own managerial stint at Camp Nou, Barcelona sporting director Deco recently revealed why the club were unsuccessful in their pursuit of the forward last summer.“Looking at last season’s squad, we were missing something there (in attack),” he told Mundo Deportivo. Luis Diaz fit this, Rashford fit, and then it’s a matter of negotiation.“On the other side, there’s a club, and they’re at a very high level.

With Diaz, Liverpool were pretty tough from the first minute, refusing to sell him.“It’s even more complicated that way, just like if they come to us and we don’t want to put a player on the market. Luis’s move, it turned out, would be impossible.“These are market factors, but there’s no such thing as a plan A, B, or C, although the press thinks it’s normal.“When we analyse the players, we know what they can contribute.