Barcelona sporting director Deco has claimed that Liverpool made a potential deal for Luis Diaz “impossible” during the summer transfer window.

The Catalan club had approached the Premier League champions in June but were swiftly rebuffed, with Liverpool making it clear the Colombian was not available for transfer.

Just a month later, Diaz sealed a £65.5 million move to Bayern Munich after requesting to leave Anfield.

Reports suggest the 28-year-old, a lifelong Barcelona supporter, had become frustrated following failed contract talks and Liverpool’s refusal to sanction his departure the previous year.

For Deco, the failed pursuit was a reminder of the gap Barcelona are still trying to bridge in the transfer market. Financial limitations have already shaped much of the club’s business, with Diaz joining goalkeeper Joan Garcia and teenage striker Roony Bardghji as the only new arrivals this summer.

Barcelona left short in attack

Deco, speaking to Mundo Deportivo, explained that Barcelona had identified a gap in their squad that Diaz could have filled. The Colombian was seen as a natural fit for the left flank, providing flexibility to also operate as a central forward.

“Looking at last season’s squad, we were missing something there,” Deco said. “We thought Ansu [Fati] would fill that role. He started pre-season well, but then things didn’t go his way, and he also suffered injuries that made things very difficult for him. He could play on the left wing and as a number nine, providing those solutions. But we lacked that profile in the squad.”

With Fati’s struggles and injuries leaving a void, Barcelona believed Diaz could have been the answer.

However, Deco insists Liverpool’s refusal to entertain talks left them with no realistic chance of securing his signature.

Luis Diaz finds his feet at Bayern

Despite missing out on his dream move to Camp Nou, Diaz has quickly settled into life in Germany.

The Colombian forward admitted to having held discussions with Barcelona but said he had no regrets about ultimately choosing Bayern.

“Colombians always support me,” Diaz told Movistar after Bayern’s Champions League win over Chelsea earlier this month. His comments underline a sense of satisfaction with his decision, even if Barcelona had been his preferred destination.

For Barcelona, the failure to land Diaz reflects both their financial challenges and Liverpool’s firm stance in the market.

For Diaz, the switch to Bayern has already opened a new chapter, one that appears to be going well as he contributes to the Bundesliga champions’ push for silverware on multiple fronts.