Moises Caicedo admits last-minute phone call with Chelsea star convinced him to reject Liverpool

Moises Caicedo revealed a last-minute phone call convinced him to reject Liverpool for Chelsea.

Liverpool submitted a club-record £111million bid rejected for Caicedo in August, having reportedly been led to believe the Ecuador international was open to an Anfield move.

The Reds even had a medical booked for the then-Brighton player.

However, Caicedo insisted he wanted to join Chelsea, who had seen several offers rejected for the midfielder before being outbid by Liverpool.

In turn, the Blues submitted a new offer worth up to £115million, duly putting an end to the drawn-out transfer saga.

Caicedo revealed how a phone call from Fernandez, who himself completed a £106.7million move to the Blues back in January, helped persuade him to transfer to Stamford Bridge over Anfield.

Caicedo said when appearing on Sky Sports' Big Interview: "It was a nice chat. I mean, the fact that a world champion was phoning you, one of the best midfielders in the world.

“Receiving that call was very nice and he convinced me to come here.

"He said it was a great club, that there are many young players, there was a togetherness here. I have always enjoyed the bond in a team because I think that, if there is that bond, we can deal with any situation we may face: pressure, everything. So, that's what motivated me to come here.

"Now, I'm enjoying playing alongside him, in training as well, in rondos. We are always together. So, I'm very happy and I'm trying to do things better every day, as Enzo said, to be a good example for everyone at the club."

Fernandes, who was sitting alongside Caicedo in the interview, revealed his delight at having convinced his midfield partner to snub Liverpool for Mauricio Pochettino’s outfit.

"I called and told him that he had to accept and come because Chelsea is a great and ambitious club," he revealed.

"And I have to thank God for giving me the chance to play alongside him at Chelsea because we all know the great player he is, but he is also a fantastic person, so I'm thankful he chose Chelsea."

Topics: Football, Chelsea, Liverpool, Transfers, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.