Marcel Brands has said that Everton had the chance to sign Luis Díaz before he moved to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
The PSV president has explained the reason why Everton did not bring Diaz to Goodison Park.
So, what has Marcel Brands said about Everton and Liverpool winger Luis Diaz? Let’s have a look.
What’s the story?
Well, Marcel Brands has claimed that Everton could have signed Luis Diaz from FC Porto when he was at the Merseyside club.
Brands, who is now the PSV president, was the Director of Football at Everton from 2018 until 2021.
The 61-year-old Dutchman has said that he wanted to bring Diaz to Goodison Park when the winger was at Porto.
However, former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who was then in charge of Everton, was not sure about the Colombian and decided against the signing of the winger.
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Liverpool signed Diaz from Porto in January 2022.
AS quotes Brands as saying: “I wanted to install my philosophy and structure in the club that would allow Everton to progress, but the decisions from above did not allow it.
“In the summer of 2021, we were looking to bring Luis Diaz from Porto.
“I was working hard to get James Rodriguez to go to Porto as part of the deal that would bring Diaz to the club, however, Rafa Benitez ruled against it because he was not sure about the player.”
Former Everton target Luis Diaz a success story at Liverpool
In my opinion, Luis Diaz has been a big success at Liverpool already. I do not think that the winger would have been as good at Everton.
Everton have not been going particularly well for a while now. There is always the threat of relegation, especially now after the punishment for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
Diaz would not been able to express himself freely at Everton. The Colombia international winger would have been restricted.
At Liverpool, manager Jurgen Klopp is playing to his strength. When fit and available, the £90,000-a-week (SalarySport) winger starts.
The 26-year-old has made 41 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career. The Liverpool and Colombia international winger has scored 11 goals and given five assists in those games.
I believe that Diaz is going to get better and could become world class. After all, he is just 26 now.