Former Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune has praised Liverpool’s transfer business and insisted Luis Diaz is someone he wanted at Old Trafford.
Fortune made 127 appearances for United from 1999-2006 and was heavily critical of his former club’s spending. He believed Liverpool’s astuteness in the transfer market has only further exposed United’s recruitment problems over recent years.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, United have spent £1.21billion on transfers compared to Liverpool’s £855.06m. However the Red Devils only have four trophies to show for it - one EFL Cup, an FA Cup, a Community Shield and a Europa League title.
Diaz has excelled since his £37.5m move from Porto in January, scoring four goals and contributing three assists. During the first half of the season at the Portuguese side, he netted 16 goals and added a further six assists.
Since his move to Anfield Diaz has put pressure on the other forwards at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal, forcing Sadio Mane into the centre and displacing Diogo Jota in Liverpool’s starting line-up for big games including the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City. He also transformed Tuesday’s Champions League second leg against Villarreal when he was introduced at half time.
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Diaz gave the Spanish side’s right-back, Juan Foyth, a torrid time and helped Liverpool to win 3-2. He has already won the Carabao Cup with Liverpool and after his exploits in Portugal, could be set to win a whopping six trophies this season. Porto are currently six points clear in the league and are also in the final of the Taca de Portugal, the equivalent of the Portuguese FA Cup. Diaz would be in line to receive winners’ medals in both after the number of appearances he made and Fortune was full of praise for Liverpool.
He told The Athletic: “As much as we don’t want to say it, Liverpool: every time they sign a player, you are thinking, ‘Wow, they look like they have done their homework’. Take Luis Diaz. I had been watching him for the last few months and years, thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, this is the player United need to sign’. Then Liverpool sign him and you are just thinking, ‘Nooo! How are we missing these players? Come on! Help me out here’.”
