Luis Diaz could make his Liverpool debut against Cardiff City this afternoon - but the winger could have been lining up in opposition had mattered turned out differently.
Diaz is on the bench for the clash against the Championship side in the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Anfield having completed a move from Porto that may eventually cost the Reds £49million.
He arrived on Merseyside after completing his work permit, and took part in some in-house media duties as well as a light training session.
At the AXA Training Centre, Diaz also met several of his new team-mates including Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, as well as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders.
READ MORE: Liverpool team confirmed as Luis Diaz and COVID decisions made for Cardiff City FA Cup tie
LIVE: Liverpool vs Cardiff City - Team news, score updates, commentary stream
The Reds swooped early for their summer target after it emerged Tottenham Hotspur were closing on a deal for the Colombia international.
However, the 25-year-old winger could have been in the Premier League three years earlier.
Diaz claimed at the time Cardiff were interested in signing him from Colombian side Junior de Barranquilla in a reported £7m move.
“Yes, there is already a pre-agreement, but I still have not said anything to them, nothing to the leaders that I agree with and that I’m going to go,” Diaz told Colombia news outlet Caracol Radio, when asked about interest from the Welsh side in March 2019.
“Let’s say there is an agreement between clubs, but I’m still holding back. I told them that I am determined to go, but I am calm and I want to do things well. If the possibility is given, it would be good.
“I have not yet submitted any medical exams. Junior had a talk, which is a preliminary agreement and nothing has been confirmed, the proposal was put in place and I have not yet travelled there.”
Ultimately, Cardiff distanced themselves from the claims made by the player and were relegated from the Premier League five weeks later. Diaz, meanwhile, joined Porto in July 2019.
