Xherdan Shaqiri reveals Liverpool, Atletico Madrid interest

Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates scoring Stoke's opener against Everton on December 28, 2015
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Stoke City midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri reveals that Liverpool and Atletico Madrid were interested in signing him before the 2014 World Cup.

Stoke City midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has revealed that Liverpool tried to sign him during his time at Bayern Munich.

The Reds were strongly linked with a move for the Switzerland international before the 2014 World Cup, only for Bayern to block any exit from the club.

Shaqiri eventually joined Inter Milan in 2015 before moving to Stoke later that year, but he confirmed that both Liverpool and Atletico Madrid were interested in him before that.

"I wanted to leave in summer by all means and had offers from Liverpool and Atletico," he told Spox.

"Brendan Rodgers called me several times before the World Cup. But Bayern forbid me to leave."

Shaqiri has already matched his goalscoring tally from his debut season at Stoke this term.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea18151238112746
2Manchester CityMan City18123339201939
3Liverpool17114241202137
4Arsenal18114339192037
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs1796229121733
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd189632718933
7Everton187562321226
8Southampton176651716124
9West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom186572322123
10Watford186482230-822
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham186482332-922
12Stoke CityStoke175661924-521
13Bournemouth186392331-821
14Burnley1862101728-1120
15Middlesbrough184681620-418
16Leicester CityLeicester184592331-817
17Crystal Palace1844102933-416
18Sunderland1842121631-1514
19Swansea CitySwansea1833122141-2012
20Hull City1833121439-2512