Luis Figo has revealed he was close to joining Liverpool after the English club won the European Cup, but delays over the deal forced him to choose Internazionale instead.
The Portuguese winger was still playing for Real Madrid when Liverpool emerged as a potential destination. The club’s status as European champions made the move especially appealing, but negotiations took too long for Figo, who felt he needed to make a quick decision about the next stage of his career.
“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.
Internazionale then moved decisively. Figo met the club’s president, Massimo Moratti, and said the transfer was settled rapidly.
“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.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on Liverpool, Figo said the club had held a special place in his imagination since childhood. He regarded Liverpool as one of the defining forces in European football and was particularly attracted by the prospect of playing at Anfield.
“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.
The former Portugal international, however, insisted the failed move did not leave him with lasting regrets. His career included spells with Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Internazionale, and he said he was satisfied with the opportunities he received.
“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 spent four seasons with Internazionale and finished his professional career at the Italian club in 2009. During that period, he helped them win a number of trophies, including four successive Serie A titles.
A further possible change to his career came in 2007, when he had the opportunity to move to Saudi Arabia. That proposal arrived at the end of his first contract with Internazionale, before the Saudi league became a major destination for high-profile 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.
The transfer did not go through, with Figo blaming the lack of seriousness among those involved in the negotiations.
“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 assessed Real Madrid’s recent recruitment. He said the Spanish club had strengthened positions that required attention, including centre-back, full-back and winger, with Diomande among the players mentioned.
“I think Real Madrid made very good signings. They brought in the players they needed in important positionscenter-back, full-back, and wingersuch as Diomande. Overall, Real Madrid signed well, driven more by necessity than by big names,” he said.
He added that changes to the squad could help restore competitiveness after Real Madrid failed to win a championship in the previous two seasons.
“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.”
Figo also questioned whether the scale of modern transfer spending could continue indefinitely, citing club budgets and financial fair play regulations.
“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.
He argued that clubs could not realistically recover the biggest fees through commercial income such as shirt sales.
“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.
