Udinese icon Antonio Di Natale claims he almost went to Liverpool in 2008

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Antonio Di Natale to Liverpool: Italian reveals move almost happened…

Iconic Italian forward Antonio Di Natale has claimed that he almost signed for Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool in 2008, and added that the Anfield club were the only team who could have made him leave Udinese.

Now approaching the twilight of his years as one of Serie A’s most lethal finishers, the 37-year-old has admitted that he spoke to the Reds when team-mate Andrea Dossena secured a move to Merseyside.

Reports in the Daily Mail carry quotes from the player, who has scored 215 goals in 397 games in all competitions for Udinese, since joining them from boyhood club Empoli in 2004.

He has even bagged ten already this season, in stark comparison to his countryman Mario Balotelli, who is still yet to find the net in a Premier League match for Liverpool.

“When Andrea Dossena signed in 2008, Liverpool spoke with me, but it all came to nothing,” Di Natale said. “Udinese taught me work ethic and respect. The only other team I would have loved to play for, for the atmosphere and the stadium, is Liverpool.”

Four years later, Di Natale captained Udinese and scored in their 3-2 victory at Anfield against Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers. He nearly called time on his career last season but changed his mind, and is now chasing his 200th Italian league goal.

 

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