The South African has revealed his admiration for the Colombia star, who has had quite an impact since his Anfield arrival
Former South Africa midfielder Quinton Fortune has revealed how he wanted his former club Manchester United to sign Liverpool’s Luis Diaz before the Colombia international ultimately signed for the Anfield giants.
The Reds signed the wideman in January from Porto in a £40.50 million deal, and Fortune has stated how he wished the player should have been signed by the Red Devils instead.
In 20 appearances for Liverpool, the 25-year-old has scored four goals and registered three assists.
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"As much as we don’t want to say it, Liverpool; every time they sign a player, you are thinking, ‘Wow, they look like they have done their homework’," Fortune said, as quoted by The Athletic.
"Take Luis Diaz. I had been watching him for the last few months and years, thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, this is the player United need to sign’.
"Then Liverpool sign him and you are just thinking, ‘Nooo! How are we missing these players? Come on! Help me out here’."
Ahead of Liverpool’s game against top-four-chasing Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Jurgen Klopp praised the impact Diaz has had on the team.
"An unbelievable impact, clear," Klopp said in his pre-match presser on Friday. "There’s enough space in each squad in the world for a world-class player – that’s what Luis is, that's why we were so desperate to get him and that's why we were so happy that we could get him.
"It makes all the difference. If you go through our games in the Champions League when we played Porto, he was still there, so it's a really strange situation."
So far this season, Diaz has had a hand in five goals in 10 Premier League outings, while contributing a further three in the Champions League.
"Now he goes with us to the final, which is absolutely outstanding. You could see what it means to him. Yes, involving an outstanding player is good for each squad and was good for us, definitely – not only because we had the African Cup when the boys were not here, but because of that as well.
"Thank God we made that decision because it helped everywhere. It’s so much more up to him than it was to other players, maybe because he communicates with everybody without really speaking the language."
As they have already lifted the Carabao Cup, Diaz and his teammates are chasing an unprecedented season’s quadruple.
They saw off Villarreal to get a Champions League final ticket and remain in the hunt for both the Premier League title and the FA Cup.
Chima92
1
go tell your mom imbecile, sauvage human being like you don't deserve to be on this platform
A d*mmy you are and a d*mmy you shall remain forever! Pale colored p!g 🐖
opeh1985
0
So that d*mmies like you will read and understand. If i typed my native language here you will be lost as you have always been! 🤡
go tell your mom imbecile, sauvage human being like you don't deserve to be on this platform
lbcrna
1
we have sacho we don't need him
Chima92
0
why are you commenting in English language then?
So that d*mmies like you will read and understand. If i typed my native language here you will be lost as you have always been! 🤡
stanaz
3
do MAN U really think there assist a player whose wish for himself is never to lift a trophy. that what Diaz avoided
mikcimntu
1
Sancho need to be a little bit hungry for goal I’m a united fan this is a bitter true
mecaklmr
0
Man United should keep on dreaming. Luis Diaz will not consider joining United in the month of Sunday. Go on and be buying your spent super stars. You already have one at the moment. Your latest is only 36 years old
opeh1985
0
He's not English that's why they didn't consider signing him. Man Utd is just an embodiment of Nepotism that's why they will not be winning any trophies anytime soon.
why are you commenting in English language then?
yimacdln
3
The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United is understandable and every team goes through that period. Liverpool had their bad period, so is Arsenal, now it is Manchester United and cycle will continue.Let everyone enjoy his moment.
mikcimntu
1
man utd dont need him...we already have sancho
Go and check sancho has never played more than 2shots on target in a game
GGMUSTAR
0
Be talking about history Feecee team fc Floppy team FC Owen didn’t win Some he won your head
😁 you are high
mikcimntu
1
man utd dont need him...we already have sancho
How many shot on targets those sancho plays in a game
YNWApool
0
Obviously you are a kid 😹 The last time I checked Unuted was and still the only club to produce world best players balon dor recipients So what are you saying you dumb
Be talking about history Feecee team fc Floppy team FC Owen didn’t win Some he won your head
GGMUSTAR
0
Obviously you are a kid 😹 The last time I checked Unuted was and still the only club to produce world best players balon dor recipients So what are you saying you dumb
United **. From England
GGMUSTAR
0
He doesn’t need to play in a floppy team
Obviously you are a kid 😹 The last time I checked Unuted was and still the only club to produce world best players balon dor recipients So what are you saying you dumb
Venomxos7
4
Manchester United has dumb management.They only get overrated players.If a player has less Market value they don't go for it.Liverpool is the boss of tranfer market.
YNWApool
0
man utd dont need him...we already have sancho
He doesn’t need to play in a floppy team
Chima92
1
He's not English that's why they didn't consider signing him. Man Utd is just an embodiment of Nepotism that's why they will not be winning any trophies anytime soon.
mumeipruz
0
diaz dont need man united
jehbeiklot
1
we're a farmers can't you see us weeding??? more than your age now you just collected 1 league trophy 🏆 and you're there asking nonsense when they change the name to premier league you just won 1 trophy 🏆 if you don't no go ask your grandparents.
am sorry sir, am not that good at history Can you also tell me when Adolf Hitler was killed??😂😂😂😂😂 since you seem to be a straight A Historian🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Salemo
1
Ofcourse they needed Luis Diaz but im the end they will buy some overrated English player like Maguire and later regret it. Now they are after Rice. 🤣
wiabcersy
0
Is Man united a team? We are ahead of them by a century. Forget them.
we're a farmers can't you see us weeding??? more than your age now you just collected 1 league trophy 🏆 and you're there asking nonsense when they change the name to premier league you just won 1 trophy 🏆 if you don't no go ask your grandparents.
viucdelnz
0
Diaz would have flopped at United, Every team is different
Tyniee
0
man utd dont need him...we already have sancho
That’s true you don’t need him. he is not English 😂
Ebubechukwu1996
1
you made a better option by ,by nor joining Manchester United
BrishavSharmaGarg
0
Is Man united a team? We are ahead of them by a century. Forget them.
your club is best at right time but you not remember man United already ahead of you 100 years you are just chasing them. And last think before writing
vyseherzel
2
man utd dont need him...we already have sancho
wuyclmnpz
0
Do you want players kill their football by sign Man United?
jezabdnpyz
2
Liverpool's Board Buy Players That Klopp Requested For.., They Listen To He Wants. 👍🏻 United's Board Buy Players That The Managers Don't Ask For.., They Want Them To Listen And Follow. 👎🏻 That's The DIFFERENCE.., That's Why The Standard Is Years Apart For Now. [Sadtolook]
Minamino
1
Is Man united a team? We are ahead of them by a century. Forget them.
cuhbcdeipy
1
stop dreaming..u ask yourself is LD want to come to MU ..are MU the best club in the world..???? the answer is NOOoooooo
Papajoe1
3
They would have wasted him... That structure doesn't permit anybody to flourish
donbilmrsy
0
They can still get him