I gave Liverpool transfer green light - it was my agent's fault the move fell through

The midfielder was extremely keen on a move to Anfield but one thing derailed the entire operation

Nabil Fekir placed all the blame on his agent for his failed move to Liverpool, insisting that any claims about his medical were untrue.

The France international was set to arrive at Anfield from Lyon in 2018 for a fee worth £53million. Reports state that Fekir had completed his medical and agreed on personal terms, only for the deal to fall apart at the last moment. It was claimed that Liverpool had backed away from the deal due to concerns about a long-term knee issue.

However, the World Cup winner was adamant there were no problems and his representatives were the reason the Anfield switch didn't happen. Speaking to The Times in 2021, the now-33-year-old said: "It was a dark moment.

"I saw plenty of things which weren’t true. It was said the knee stopped me going to Liverpool but that wasn’t true. I went to Clairefontaine (France’s football centre near Paris), and they did all the checks and the knee was fine.

"I had a problem with my agent, my adviser. It was the agent responsible for the deal not going through. Of course I was disappointed not to go to Liverpool, very disappointed because Liverpool are a great club."

Fekir slammed the "incredible amount of lies" he claimed were told and stated the alleged knee issue put off other clubs from signing him. He told L'Equipe: "There was an incredible amount of lies told about it. Everything that has been said about my family in particular. It hurts them, as it hurt me.

"You want the truth? Even I do not know it, I assure you. I did my medical examination and, behind, they decided not to sign me. At one point, they wanted me to believe it was the knee. But it was an excuse and medical tests passed at Clairefontaine were very clear.

"What irritated me was that by trying to advance this pseudo-physical problem, it ruled out chances with other clubs that were potentially interested, while there are other players who have experienced the same injury and it did not prevent them from returning to a normal trajectory.

"I have no bitterness towards Liverpool. They showed me that they really wanted me. But behind, when you do not surround yourself with good people, it hurts you."

Fekir would go on to sign for Real Betis a year on from his failed Liverpool move, signing a four-year deal worth an initial £17.7m. He won the Copa del Rey in 2022 before moving on to Al-Jazira Club two years later.

The midfielder now plays in the Saudi Pro League with Abha, agreeing to a two-year deal with the club earlier this summer.

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