'Said no to Liverpool': Agent confirms £16m Champions League star snubbed Arne Slot before outshining Erling Haaland

12/13/2024 08:45 AM

Both Liverpool and Manchester City have now been left frustrated by one of the Champions League’s breakout stars, albeit for very different reasons.

While Man City’s form continues to look more and more like a tiny Welsh hamlet – LLLLLDLWD and another L courtesy of Juventus in Turin – Erling Haaland must have thought he had turned the tide as he found himself with a rare opportunity inside the Bianconeri penalty area.

Well, that was until the outstanding Michele di Gregorio lifted a glove and palmed Haaland’s attempted chip away from Juventus’ net.

Manchester City’s usually-reliable number nine was hammered in the Italian press in the aftermath of a seventh defeat in ten games for Pep Guardiola’s tired team. But these are the sort of margins in which results are defined, and narratives are set.

Had Haaland lifted his shot a few inches higher, even a goalkeeper as talented as Di Gregorio may have been rendered helpless.

As for Liverpool, Man City’s perennial title rivals, their frustrations with the former Monza glovesman arose from very different circumstances.

Michele di Gregorio chose Juventus over Liverpool

Di Gregorio’s agent, speaking to Tuttosport following a performance which really announced his client as one of Europe’s finest goalkeepers, confirms that he rejected Arne Slot’s team prior to joining Juventus in a deal which could be worth around £16 million.

“Can we say that Di Gregorio is indigestible to English teams?,” Carlo Alberto Belloni wonders with a laugh. “Surely the Manchester City fans will remember his saves for a long time.

“In the summer, we said no to Liverpool to marry the Juventus project.”

According to Tuttosport, Liverpool held talks with Michele di Gregorio in Italy back in May.

Liverpool turned to Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili instead once it became apparent Di Gregorio had his heart set on Juve, snapping up the giant Georgia international for a fee just shy of £30 million.

Mamardashvili will remain on loan at the La Liga strugglers until at least the summer of 2025. His eventual arrival, plus the outstanding form of Caoimhin Kelleher and Alisson Becker’s enduring brilliance, is likely to give Slot quite a selection headache at some point down the line.

For Belloni, meanwhile, Di Gregorio’s rise from Serie B in 2022 to the heights of the Champions League in 2024 is testament to the former Inter Milan youngster’s insatiable desire for self-improvement.

Juventus goalkeeper has ‘an incredible mentality’

“Di Gregorio is an athlete who works hard to always improve,” Belloni adds. “Just think, he had a gym installed at home so he can train even on his day off! He has an incredible mentality and his desire is to be part of a Juve that returns to write history, winning the most important trophies”.

“The most difficult save [in Juventus’ win over Man City]? I choose the one on Haaland. The City striker was about to beat him thanks to the lob and, instead, ‘DiGre’ with slapped the ball out of the goal, saving the result.

“A very important intervention for the purposes of the match.”

While Liverpool are the only team with a 100 per cent record in the competition, Manchester City are staring Champions League elimination in the face. The 2023 Treble winners can be overtaken by Paris Saint-Germain – currently outside the top 16 – when they next take to the field in Europe in late January.