Tuesday 14 March 2017 16:51, UK
Marseille's Maxime Lopez claims he turned down the chance to join Liverpool, even though he was told he could be Philippe Coutinho's successor.
The 19-year-old is a Marseille academy graduate and signed a four-year deal with the Ligue 1 side in February.
There have been reports that both Liverpool and Barcelona have been interested in the midfielder in the past.
And he told L'Equipe how he was apparently courted by Liverpool in the 2014/15 season.
"They said to me 'In five years, you'll be playing in Coutinho's spot'," he said. "They approached me in a positive way. I even met Steven Gerrard at the stadium after the game.
"I wanted to go there but I also wanted to stay at OM. Leaving like that, at that age - even with your family - is very tough. I noted that they had a squad of 30 youth players, not to mention the first-team players. You really have to be mentally prepared."
Lopez has made 22 starts in all competitions for Marseille this season.
And club president Jacques Henri Eyraud recently praised the youngster, saying his new contract was a "strong symbol".
"He is a young, talented player who is very appreciated by the fans, and to whom we want to give a chance to develop into a man at the foundation of our sporting project," he said.
"Beyond that, the message we want to send to the young Marseille players is that everything is possible with Marseille."
