Liverpool forward Divock Origi has revealed that he rejected an offer from Manchester United as a teenager before he joined the youth ranks at Lille, as well as later turning down Bayern Munich before deciding to make the switch to Anfield in 2014.
"I started with the national team at under-16s. It was a very good year for me, a lot of scouts were coming to my dad. I heard Manchester United wanted to sign me, some Italian clubs and German clubs," Origi is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.
Having visited Lille training facilities and being inspired by fellow countryman Eden Hazard's progress at the club, the Belgian knew there was only place he wanted to go at that time.
"My heart said: 'go to Lille.' I remember coming home from school, sitting in the kitchen and my dad said: 'the choice is yours, what do you want to do?' I decided to go to Lille," he explained.
Had Origi chosen United at that time in his career he almost certainly would not have later wound up at Liverpool, while his eventual move to Merseyside came with a choice as well. But again, following a visit, there was only one clear winner.
"There were offers from everywhere. Bayern were interested, all these clubs. But I came to Liverpool, I saw the facilities, I took some time out of my holiday to visit Melwood and speak with Brendan Rodgers (manager)," the 21-year-old said.
"When I came in, everyone knew my name, they knew who I was and they were looking at a video of me even from the under-15s. They knew about my qualities and when I saw the values of the club - passing, pressing, fast players. I was like, 'this is the place I want to go'."
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