Liverpool once swooped in and signed promising Spanish talent Suso despite the winger already having agreed a contract with Real Madrid. The Reds signed Suso, now 32, back in the summer of 2010 from his hometown club Cadiz.
The teenager joined on loan until he was old enough to obtain a permit to play for them professionally. He later revealed that Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager at the time, convinced him to make a move to Anfield that summer despite the player already being on the verge of becoming a Los Blancos star, after the La Liga giants made a big-money move for him.
Benitez, who is also Spanish, met with the player and his family to pitch Liverpool’s project, as well as outlining how much confidence he had in the young Spaniard. He was successful in convincing Suso to snub Madrid for Liverpool, though Benitez would leave Anfield by mutual consent that same summer on June 3, meaning Suso never actually played under the manager.
Suso's Decision and Career
Suso later told Cope: "I had agreed on a contract with Real Madrid, and the transfer was basically done, but then Rafael Benitez called me and told me he had a lot of confidence in me and that I should go to Liverpool. I’m glad I made this decision. I love this club and it is the best for me."
Suso signed his first pro deal with the club on his 17th birthday in November 2010. He continued to spend some time developing in Liverpool's youth team and reserves, before enjoying his big breakthrough under Brendan Rodgers in 2012/13.
The winger made his debut in September 2012 during a Europa League victory over Young Boys. He made 20 appearances that season but returned to Spain for a season-long loan with La Liga side Almeria ahead of the 2013/14 campaign, having been shut out of the first team due to the signings of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho.
The following campaign, he made just one appearance in the first half of the season and eventually sealed a permanent move away to AC Milan in January 2015, where he remained until 2020, making 153 appearances and scoring 23 times. He now plays for boyhood club Cadiz again and has five caps for Spain, which came between 2017 and 2019.
Current Battle for Yan Diomande
Sixteen years on from competing for Suso’s signature, Real Madrid and Liverpool have once more been locked in a battle for an exciting young winger’s signature, though Los Blancos are set to win the race this time as they look to wrap up a deal for Yan Diomande. The RB Leipzig winger, 19, has agreed personal terms with the Spanish club despite being a top Liverpool target for much of this summer.
The Reds had an initial £85million bid rejected for the Ivorian in June, while PSG also fell short of Leipzig’s valuation, having emerged as Diomande’s preferred destination during the World Cup. However, Florentino Perez-led Real Madrid have now hijacked any deal by agreeing to pay more than £100m for Diomande.
Liverpool have now moved on to other targets, while PSG have opted against entering a bidding war with Real after reportedly having a final bid rejected for the teenager on Sunday. The Reds have turned their attention to PSG's Bradley Barcola as they continue their search for a top winger.
