Figo revealed in a career retrospective that he was very close to joining Liverpool, but the deal dragged on and eventually fell through.
Liverpool, which had just been crowned European champions, was the target club at the time—an attractive prospect for Figo, who was then playing for Real Madrid.
"The reason was timing, and it depended on the financial decisions Liverpool had to make. It took them a long time to decide, and at that point, I had to determine my future quickly. I couldn't wait," Figo explained.
"Then Internazionale appeared, and I met with President Moratti, and things were quickly resolved. From that moment on, there was no looking back," he recalled.
Figo admitted that the move held special appeal for him. Liverpool was one of the most important benchmarks in European football during his childhood, and playing at Anfield was particularly tempting.
"When I was a child, Liverpool was very influential in Europe. Perhaps it was the team I most wanted to play for, but ultimately couldn't," he confessed.
However, the Portuguese did not believe the failed transfer left him with deep regrets. "I was fortunate to play for the best teams in the world, and I'm happy about that. I don't feel like I missed out on that dream," he added.
Figo ultimately played for Internazionale for four seasons, ending his professional career there in 2009. During his time there, he helped the team win numerous honors, including four consecutive Serie A titles.
This was not the only transfer that could have altered his career trajectory. In 2007, two years later, Figo also had the opportunity to leave Italy and play in Saudi Arabia, at a time when the Saudi league was far from experiencing its current large-scale influx of players.
"Before this craze started, I had the opportunity to join a team there. That was at the end of my first contract with Internazionale, around 2007," he explained.
However, this deal also did not materialize. Figo bluntly explained the reason: "It couldn't be completed because the people involved weren't serious enough. So in the end, I stayed at Internazionale for another two years. But Saudi Arabia back then wasn't what it is now."
Figo also took the opportunity to analyze Real Madrid's recent transfer activity.
"I think Real Madrid made very good signings. They brought in the players they needed in important positions—center-back, full-back, and winger—such as Diomandé. Overall, Real Madrid signed well, driven more by necessity than by big names," he said.
Figo believes that refreshing the squad is also important for reigniting the team's competitive spirit. "After not winning a championship in the past two seasons, this step was necessary, and the team had to strengthen. This is important for dressing room morale and allows fans to approach the new season with greater hope and genuine enthusiasm."
"It will stop at some point. Indeed, it depends on the club's budget, financial fair play rules... but these figures are very high," he stated.
Figo also believes that from a commercial perspective alone, it is almost impossible to justify certain enormous expenditures.
"I don't think it's possible to recoup a €150 million transfer fee through things like selling jerseys, as outsiders often claim or as people want us to believe. These signings can bring sporting returns, but financially, it's very difficult," he concluded.
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