Veteran midfielder Seydou Keita has revealed he rejected the chance to join Liverpool in 2014 and chose to move from Valencia to Roma instead. At the time, the Malian was already 34 but may have given the Reds much needed solidity in central midfield.
Talking to the Italian website L’Ultimo Uomo, the former Barcelona player said that the number of French speakers, including then manager Rudi Garcia, helped him to decide to move to Italy instead of Anfield. When asked about his reasoning, he said:
“There were many French people, for the climate and because it is a great team. Liverpool? I felt it was not the right choice. And I do not regret coming here.”
Keita played for Barca for 4 years between 2008 and 2012 before moving on to the Chinese Super League. After returning to Spain for a brief spell at Valencia, he moved to Roma in June 2014, and is still a regular in the side at the age of 36. This season, he has made 26 appearances for the Italian club, helping his side to finish third on 80 points, two points behind second placed Napoli and 11 points behind Serie A champions Juventus.
