Alderweireld was touted by many top sides this summer before choosing Atleti.
Liverpool made two defensive signings on Monday in Tiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho, but new Atletico Madrid centre-back Toby Alderweireld reveals the club approached the Belgian first.
The 24-year-old had been linked with several sides throughout the summer, with the Belgium international turning down moves to both Bayer Leverkusen and Norwich City, before then choosing Atletico over the Reds.
“The club have been following me now for two or three weeks, and you could see they really wanted me,” Alderweireld was quoted by FourFourTwo.
“That is why I turned down approaches from other teams. Liverpool, for example, appeared in the last few days, but I had already taken my decision.
“The truth is that Atletico made a huge effort to convince me.”
Fans at Anfield may not be too disappointed to learn this news, as in Ilori and Sakho the club have a talented prospect and an established international.
Defence has been an area Brendan Rogders’ side have been strong in so far this term, with the team recording three 1-0 victories so far in the Premier League, with wins over Stoke City, Aston Villa and Manchester United.
The switch of Alderweireld to the Vicente Calderon Stadium meanwhile, allowed Manchester City to sign Martin Demichelis from Atleti just two months after the Argentine had joined the club from Malaga.
Rodgers’ men look strong this season and are hoping to qualify for the Champions League, having failed to make the top four in the English top tier since 2009.
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