Diego Costa has revealed that he almost made a move to Liverpool 12 months prior to joining Premier League rivals Chelsea.
The Spanish international has scored 17 goals in 21 top-flight appearances this season following a £32m switch from Atletico Madrid last summer.
However, things could have turned out differently had Costa opted to take up an offer from the Reds in 2013 after they activated a £21m release clause in his contract.
"I was close to leaving Atletico," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror. "Liverpool are a great team, but after fighting so hard and overcoming difficulties to get my place at Atletico, how could I leave?
"I thought it was very important to keep growing with Atletico and to play there for many years."
Costa, who was banned earlier this season for stamping on Liverpool's Emre Can, would go on to score 27 league goals for Atletico as they claimed the 2013-14 La Liga title.
Daniel Lewis
