28-year-old French international opens up on failed Liverpool move in 2018

Nabil Fekir reveals why Liverpool move failed in 2018

According to The Times (h/t ECHO), Nabil Fekir blamed his agent for the failed move to Liverpool in the summer of 2018. A deal worth £53m was on the cards and it got very close to completion. Liverpool seemed to pull the plug at the 11th hour and it was assumed because of a failed medical. However, the French midfielder revealed it was due to his agent that the move collapsed.

The summer of 2018 was an eventful one for the Reds. It was a time that would define the next two years of success. Liverpool went big in the transfer window by signing Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri. However, there was also the deal for Nabil Fekir that was in the works.

He had impressed for Lyon in the prior seasons and looked close to heading to Anfield. However, the deal fell through as it was understood that Liverpool had backed out of it. There was speculation that it was a medical that had gone wrong. Fekir would then go on to join Real Betis a year later, impressing quite a bit for them.

Despite the furore regarding the medical, Fekir has gone on to clarify that that was not the case. Instead, he revealed that it was due to his agent that he was denied his dream move.

“It was a dark moment. I saw plenty of things which weren’t true. It was said the knee stopped me going to Liverpool but that wasn’t true. I went to Clairefontaine [France’s football centre near Paris], and they did all the proof [medical] and the knee was fine. I had a problem with my agent, my adviser. It was the agent responsible for the deal not going through. Of course I was disappointed not to go to Liverpool, very disappointed because Liverpool are a great club.”

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It’s hard to say what could have happened had a move gone through. Liverpool won’t be complaining much as they went on to lift the Champions League and Premier League in consecutive seasons. Fekir has also fared well during his time in Spain.