Liverpool missed key target ahead of 2024 Atletico Madrid move

Atletico Madrid’s gain was Liverpool’s loss last summer as Diego Simeone landed fellow Argentinian Julian Alvarez in the Spanish capital.

Alavrez finished the 2024/25 season as Los Rojiblancos’ top scorer in La Liga with 17 goals and in all competitions with 29 scored in his first year.

The move cost Atletico Madrid £82m, as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City moved in a different direction, but Simeone was not the only interested party in Alvarez.

Rumours of the former River Plate forward wanting an immediate Premier League return last month were rejected as he remains vital to Simeone’s plans.

Liverpool were linked with a fresh offer for Alvarez, before eventually wrapping up a record breaking deal for Alexander Isak, but it could have played out differently in 2024.

As per reports from the Daily Telegraph, former Reds star Luis Diaz told the club hierarchy he wanted to leave Anfield 12 months ago, but an exit from Merseyside was blocked.

Liverpool wanted to launch a renewed effort to extend the Colombian’s contract alongside a possible swap deal for Alvarez whilst he was still at City.

However, Guardiola was not interested in selling a key player to a rival team, and would only offload Alvarez to Simeone to avoid bolstering a Premier League foe.

Diaz was linked with a move to Barcelona, but the Catalans ongoing financial issues meant they were unable to table a firm bid, as Hansi Flick missed out on him and Athletic Club winger Nico Williams.

Bayern Munich eventually swooped for Diaz, who reportedly rejected Liverpool’s final contract offer, after the Bavarians were also turned down by Williams in July.

Alvarez scored Atletico Madrid’s opening goal of the 2025/26 season, but Simeone’s charges have struggled for form in August, with just two points gained from their first three games of the new campaign.