Duje Caleta-Car has revealed he turned down a late January transfer offer from Liverpool despite interest during an injury-hit season.
The defender is among few players who declined Liverpool, choosing loyalty over opportunity during a turbulent period for Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool endured defensive problems in January 2021, with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez sidelined long-term.
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That crisis forced Liverpool into the market, prompting enquiries for Marseille centre-back Caleta-Car during the winter transfer window.
The Croatian international was a regular starter in France and part of Croatia’s 2018 World Cup final squad.
Why Caleta-Car rejected Liverpool move
Caleta-Car admitted receiving Liverpool’s offer felt special but decided remaining at Marseille was best for his development.
He believed staying in familiar surroundings would help him improve rather than rushing into Premier League pressure mid-season.
Liverpool moved on quickly, signing Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak on deadline day to solve defensive depth concerns.
Academy graduates Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams also stepped up, helping Liverpool navigate a difficult campaign successfully.
Caleta-Car later joined Southampton in 2022 but struggled, making limited appearances as the club suffered relegation, reports Mirror.
He returned to France with Lyon, before securing another loan move, this time joining Real Sociedad in Spain.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have since enjoyed domestic success, leaving Caleta-Car’s decision as a fascinating transfer “what-if” story.
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