Ex Liverpool target Nabil Fekir has opened up on his failed move to Liverpool in the summer of 2018. The 26-year-old came close to joining Jurgen Klopp’s side for £53 million but Liverpool pulled out of the deal with Lyon due to concerns over the midfielder’s knee.
Fekir required two operations on his right knee inside the space of a year due to a cruciate ligament rupture.
But the World Cup winner strongly believes that he has no knee issues and that subject was not raised during his medical.
Lots of lies were told and they affected me,’ Fekir told L’Equipe. ‘Especially those told about my family. It hurt them and me. Especially when you know that’s what being told is false. ‘What was said is not the truth. My knee is good, I had a quick medical check at Clairefontaine, my knee wasn’t even mentioned. If my knee had been in such a bad state, would [Jean-Michel] Aulas have made [an offer to keep me]? ‘But the worst thing is the idea that people could suggest that it’s because of my family that the transfer didn’t happen. It’s a lie. But you have to live with it.
Asked if he was referring to his former agent Jean-Pierre Bernes who his split with earlier this year, Fekir replied: ‘Maybe. But like I said, it’s fate. But it’s not normal to be kept informed of negotiations. ‘My family is discreet and it’s not nice to try to split a family. It was a dark moment in my career. ‘If you don’t have anything good to say about someone, it’s best to stay quiet. Otherwise, I’ll say things I’ll regret. ‘That’s not how I was brought up. He [Bernes] knows where he stands. We have no contact today and I don’t want any.’
Fekir has since joined Real Betis in a shock deal after he refused to sign a new contract at Lyon and the club was forced to sell him with just a year left on his deal.
