Luis Garcia appears to take swipe at Martin Zubimendi as he celebrates 20 years since joining Liverpool

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Liverpool have often done quite well for themselves after missing out on top targets in years gone by.

The Reds are famously said to have pivoted away from Mario Gotze and Julian Brandt to sign Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah respectively, for example.

Losing out on a player they’ve earmarked to be a big part of the Liverpool squad has never seemed to hold the Reds back in the past.

Supporters will be hoping that the same can be said after they failed to land Martin Zubimendi earlier this month. All the signs suggest that there will be no alternative to Zubimendi, but maybe Liverpool can be stronger without the Spaniard.

Ryan Gravenberch showed that he can be the answer with an excellent display against Ipswich at the weekend and now former Liverpool player Luis Garcia has appeared to give a hint that Zubimendi’s decision will be his loss, not Liverpool’s.

Luis Garcia celebrates 20 years since Liverpool signing

Quite unbelievably, Tuesday marked two full decades since Garcia rocked up as a new signing at Anfield alongside Xabi Alonso.

The pair would play an enormous part in Liverpool winning the Champions League that very season and the FA Cup a year later.

Although arriving as a Spain international from Barcelona, Garcia had plenty to prove when joining the Reds. It was his first time as a player outside of his homeland, too.

And taking to X on Tuesday, the 46-year-old admitted that the move had pushed him outside of his comfort zone, but he had been all the better for it.

READ MORE: Real Sociedad manager shares his opinion on why Martin Zubimendi rejected Liverpool

“OTD 20 years ago, I made a very tough decision, becoming probably the best decision I’ve ever taken,” says Garcia.

“Life is about challenges, getting out of your comfort zone and embracing what you have in front of you and You’ll never walk alone !!”

Of course, the Spaniard’s message could simply have been all for himself and have no secondary meaning. But coming so hot on the heels of his countryman rejecting Liverpool in such a high-profile way, that seems a little unlikely.

Garcia’s message is made all the more pertinent by the fact that he is joined in the picture by Alonso, a player idolised by Zubimendi who had an identical situation 20 years ago. Alonso chose Liverpool and never looked back.

Could Liverpool’s Zubimendi bid be revived?

This does have the look of a very deliberate post from Garcia and although Zubimendi may not see it, it has certainly boosted Luis’ already healthy reputation with Liverpool supporters.

For the current Real Sociedad midfielder, it would be unlikely to change his view anyway. What’s done is done.

However, it would be fascinating to see what would happen if Zubimendi did decide to return, cap in hand to Liverpool.

Unfortunately, it has already been claimed that Liverpool will not come back in for Zubimendi whatever the weather. The Red ship has sailed for the Euro 2024 winner.

As the years tick by, it will be interesting to see the direction Zubimendi’s career takes. Of course, not everyone is the same and maybe the move was not for him. But, as Garcia showed, great things can happen when you make a leap.