Wednesday, 4th September, 2013
New Atletico Madrid defender Toby Alderweireld has revealed that he turned down the chance to join Liverpool in order to land at the Vicente Calderon, with the Reds' approach coming too late.
Alderweireld made the move from Dutch champions Ajax to Atletico Madrid, completing the formalities of his move on transfer deadline day.
His had been an epic transfer saga, with the Belgian coming close to joining Bayer Leverkusen and Spartak Moscow, while he rejected Norwich City, despite the Canaries agreeing a fee with Ajax.
Throughout, even amid interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, were Liverpool, consistently linked with wanting to take the centre-back to Anfield.
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And, according to Alderweireld, Liverpool did make an attempt to snap him up before the window shut, only for the Belgium international to opt for Atletico Madrid, having already made up his mind.
"The club have been very focused on me for the last two or three weeks, you could see that they really wanted me", he told Spanish daily AS.
"That is why I rejected enquiries from other clubs.
"Liverpool, for example, had come along in the last few days, but I had already made my decision.
"The truth is that Atletico made a huge effort to convince me."
The 23-year-old will now bid to impress with Diego Simeone's men and has Champions League football to look forward to this season at the Vicente Calderon.
Atletico Madrid have been placed in Group G, along with Austria Vienna, FC Porto and Zenit St. Petersburg.
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