Luis Diaz Calls Bayern Move 'Correct One' After Barcelona Talks

Luis Diaz, the Bayern Munich forward, has expressed contentment with his move to the Bavarian club, despite significant interest from Barcelona last summer. The Catalan giants had reportedly identified Diaz as a key target to bolster their attack but ultimately pursued other options due to his prohibitive transfer fee.

Although Deco, Barcelona's Director of Football, prioritized Diaz for the role, the Colombian ultimately completed a €70 million transfer from Liverpool to Bayern. Barcelona then shifted its focus, initially considering Athletic Club's Nico Williams before eventually securing Marcus Rashford on a loan deal from Manchester United, primarily due to ongoing salary cap concerns.

Diaz Believes Bayern Choice Was 'Correct'

Diaz recently showcased his importance by scoring the opening goal in Bayern's 2-1 Champions League quarter-final victory against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. Following the match, he affirmed his satisfaction with the decision to join the Bundesliga outfit.

“Moving to Bayern was absolutely the right choice. I'm incredibly happy and enjoy every match,” Diaz stated to Movistar+, as reported by Marca. He further confirmed that discussions with Barcelona had indeed taken place. “Naturally, there were negotiations with various clubs, including Barcelona, which is common in the transfer market. However, I am entirely at peace with my decision, which I made very objectively, focusing on the crucial aspects for my future. I'm delighted to be at Bayern; it’s a fantastic club, and I made a well-considered choice regarding my career path.”

Laporta Claimed Diaz 'Always Wanted to Come to Barcelona'

Last July, following Barcelona's acquisition of Rashford, President Joan Laporta reflected on the club's transfer dealings. He indicated that Diaz had been receptive to a move to Catalonia. “While I admired Luis Diaz, who is a very complete player, his situation with a firmly entrenched Liverpool made a transfer exceptionally difficult, even though the player consistently expressed a desire to join us,” Laporta explained.