Liverpool reveals why FSG rejected move for ‘top talent’ as Man City and Chelsea also drop out of hunt
Gabri Veiga and Eduardo Camavinga
Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga and Real
Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga
A top Liverpool source has explained why
the Reds decided against signing Gabri Veiga
from Celta Vigo, with Manchester City and
Chelsea also moving for other targets after
initially setting their sights on him.
On June 22, it emerged that Liverpool were
‘ready to agree’ an £83,000-a-week contract
with Veiga, who has shone in the Celta Vigo
midfield over the past 12 months. But
Liverpool soon discovered that they would
face competition from Manchester City for
Veiga, with Pep Guardiola eyeing up the
Spaniard after missing out on Declan Rice to Arsenal.
Liverpool then made the first move in the
race for Veiga by contacting super agent
Jorge Mendes and tasking him with
organising a deal.
However, Liverpool ended up changing
their minds and went on to bring in
Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig instead.
And this has forced Veiga to consider
alternative transfer options. On August 13,
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport
revealed the 21-year-old to be ‘one step
away’ from signing for Napoli.
The reigning Serie A champions have
reached an agreement with Celta Vigo worth
€35million (£30m). Napoli have also
finalised a five-year contract with the player himself.
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During an interview with CaughtOffside,
respected transfer reporter Fabrizio
Romano has explained how the Veiga chase
unfolded. He confirmed that Liverpool, City
and Chelsea all kept tabs on the playmaker,
but eventually swooped for different
players.
“Gabri Veiga – the Celta Vigo midfielder is
now closing in on a move to Napoli despite
links with Premier League clubs earlier this
summer,” Romano said.
Liverpool opt against Gabri Veiga capture
“Liverpool decided to go for different kind
of midfielders, Chelsea did the same with
Romeo Lavia. So it’s about skills – they all
rated Veiga as top talent but didn’t bid due
to different vision. Man City considered him
after the Declan Rice saga but then decided
to invest big money on different kind of players.”
Liverpool recently added a third new
midfielder to their ranks – after Alexis Mac
Allister and Szoboszlai – by signing Japan
captain Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for
£16.2m. Endo will help replace Fabinho and
Jordan Henderson following their moves to the Saudi Pro League.
Only time will tell whether Liverpool made
a mistake in not landing Veiga from Celta
Vigo. There is a good chance he will thrive at
Napoli alongside the likes of Khvicha
Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen.
Veiga will also try to help Napoli keep hold
of their Italian title, as well as go further in
this season’s Champions League following
their quarter-final exit last term.
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