Nine years ago a young Luis Alberto swapped Andalusia for Anfield, turning his back on the sun-specked streets of Seville to enrol in Brendan Rodgers’ football finishing school.
Almost a decade later, the Leicester City boss will hope a reputation he honed during spells at Celtic and the King Power Stadium will see an ambitious attempt to bring Alberto back to the Premier League bear fruit.
“I went (to Liverpool) because Brendan Rodgers wanted me,” the once-capped Spain international later told Onda Cero.
“I knew the jump to the Premier League would be difficult. It didn’t happen, but it’s an experience that helped me grow.”
A 20-year-old Alberto made nine top-flight appearances in Liverpool colours during Rodgers’ tenure – one being a tense 1-0 victory over bitter rivals Manchester United.
And if the Northern Irishman hadn’t been given his marching orders early in the 2015/16 season at a time when Alberto was shining on loan at Deportivo La Coruna, perhaps he’d be a Liverpool player to this day?
Could former Liverpool man Luis Alberto be reunited with Brendan Rodgers at Leicester?
Flash forward to September 2021 and Alberto is one of the most feared attacking midfielders in Italy, blossoming in the sky blue of Lazio into the type of player Rodgers always knew he could become.
In fact, when Everton were linked early last year Lazio were reported to want £70 million for a man who contributed 16 assists in 2018/19.
“He’s another (Philippe) Coutinho,” Rodgers told The Mirror eight years ago, when Alberto was new to Liverpool.
“Young Luis is exactly the same – a talented, very highly rated young player.”
According to Citta Celeste, Rodgers hasn’t forgotten about his former pupil, following his development closely. It’s understood the Leicester boss would love to field Alberto alongside James Maddison and Youri Tielemans in a Foxes midfield with more magic than a Penn and Teller marathon.
But despite the mutual respect between Rodgers and Alberto, be wary of betting your house on a return to England for the 29-year-old playmaker.
Alberto has a contract until 2025 and, while Leicester are more moneyed than most in the Premier League, the Foxes don’t often splash out on a player midway through his career.
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