Paris Saint-Germain star Dani Alves agreed to join Liverpool in 2006, but still hopes to play in England before retiring
Brazilian defender was at Sevilla and thought he was on his way to Anfield after agreeing switch to England but then Liverpool boss pulled plug on cut-price £9million deal
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN star Dani Alves has sent Liverpool fans into meltdown, revealing he agreed a move to Merseyside in 2006.
The Brazilian defender has been regarded as one the best right-backs in world football over the decade and still harbours hopes of playing in the Premier League.
Alves, 34, was at Sevilla and being chased by Europe’s big boys including Liverpool, and the defender had virtually packed his bags for England.
However, what Alves did not know at the time was Benitez decided to pull the plug on the £9million switch, and opted to sign Jermaine Pennant and Alvaro Arbeloa instead.
Benitez's bizarre decision allowed Alves to move to Barcelona two years later.
Alves told Four Four Two: “I pretty much had an agreement with Liverpool.
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"But for whatever reason it didn’t happen at the last moment and I really don’t know why, as I wasn’t the one conducting the negotiations.
"I had other people representing me back then.
“Something similar happened later in my career with Chelsea and Real Madrid.
"Of course, it all worked out happily for the Cules (Barcelona supporters) in the end, and also for me as I was able to write an amazing story at the Camp Nou instead.”
The full-back was again heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, this time it would have been to link up with his former Barca boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
But PSG swooped and he penned a two-year deal with the big spending French outfit after his departure from Juventus.
He added: “I still have this ambition, yes, but I don't know if it will happen now.
“I think there are plenty of things to do here first with PSG.”
Alves has helped PSG to set the early title pace in Ligue 1 this season, while a 5-0 Champions League hammering of Anderlecht on Tuesday has them already guaranteed of a place in the last-16 and one of the teams to fear in the knockout stages.
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