David Carmo had a “foot and a half” in Liverpool’s dressing room during the January transfer window, Braga president Antonio Salvador has told Marca.
You have to feel for the 21-year-old centre-half.
After missing out on a dream move to Anfield, Carmo saw his breakthrough season come to a premature conclusion only weeks later, suffering a broken leg during a cup clash with Porto.
Liverpool’s injury curse, it seems, extends beyond their own players to inflict transfer targets too.
According to AS, the 2020 Premier League champions were willing to pay £18 million for Carmo three months ago.
But, after baulking at Braga’s £23 million price tag, one of the most highly rated young defenders in Europe stayed put.
However, Salvador is expecting bids to roll in again before long, with a number of La Liga clubs willing to overlook Carmo’s season-ending fracture.
“Every year we have to sell. In January, for example, David Carmo had a foot and a half at Liverpool – but we ended up retaining him,” the Braga president says.
“He is a player who, despite being injured at the moment, continues to have several suitors, even in Spain.
“To have a balanced budget, we have to receive between €12.5 million and €15 million a year in transfers. This is an established point if we are to continue at the same level we have been at for the last decade.
“This year we will have to do more to resist the damage caused by the pandemic.”
This, then, sounds like a man open to offers for his key players. If Liverpool come calling again, Braga will happily pick up the phone.
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