Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita was very close to joining Barcelona before he made the switch from the Bundesliga to the Premier League last summer.
Keita recently cemented his place in the Liverpool squad after impressing Jurgen Klopp with some quality performances, however, the midfielder could have been playing alongside Lionel Mess before moving to Merseyside.
According to the Mundo Deportivo, as cited on Sport Witness, the Liverpool star was just ‘one step away’ from joining the Spanish champions back in 2017.
Two things stood in the way between the transfer, one being an increase in the transfer fee that Barcelona were not sure they wanted to pay and Keita himself indicating that he wanted ‘to feel both sporting and emotionally wrapped up in this new challenge’.
The midfielder also indicated he wanted a net salary of around €7 million which Barcelona deemed too much and were reluctant to grant the player this wish.
However, contract talks officially ended after the club wouldn’t promise the midfielder a place in their starting line-up which in turn ended all chances of a possible move.
After chasing a deal with RB Leipzig, Liverpool went on to agree a deal in advance with the Bundesliga outfit ahead of his move to Anfield last summer.
Liverpool face Barcelona tonight in the Champions League semi-finals at the Camp Nou with all eyes on the Merseyside team as they look to cause an upset.
