Boca Juniors defender Carlos Zambrano says Joel Matip is only at Liverpool because he turned the Reds down.

The Peruvian international centre-back, now 30, reveals this happened back in 2016 when Jurgen Klopp came calling and admits he now regrets turning down the dream switch.

"I was a stone's throw away from playing in Liverpool," he said.

“I didn't go, and they signed Joel Matip. I didn't go because I was struggling to get out of the relegation zone with Eintracht Frankfurt and I gave them my word to stay.

“These are decisions that you make, and then you regret them. My team-mates told me: 'It's Liverpool', but I had to keep my word. Besides, I'm very fond of Frankfurt."