Switzerland international Xherdan Shaqiri has revealed that he wanted to join Liverpool in the summer.
The 23-year-old completed his move to Inter Milan from Bayern Munich on Friday.
While the midfielder has said that he is happy to have arrived at the San Siro, he admits that he had his heart set on a switch to the Reds at the start of the season, before Bayern blocked the transfer.
"In the end I had a lot of options, very lucrative offers," he told Blick. "And I was on the phone with very many Coaches who talked to me about their ideas ... But just I felt that Inter did most to get me. My gut feeling was with Inter.
"I had wanted to join Liverpool over the summer, but Bayern would not agree to it. That was not easy for me, but I had to accept it. That's why I am glad that it has worked out with this move in the winter."
Shaqiri has signed a four-and-a-half year contract with Inter that will keep him at the club until 2019.
Alex Meyers
