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The time Souness rejected move from Liverpool to Barcelona

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness reveals he rejected the chance to sign for Barcelona when he left the European champions.

Published: Thursday, 15 October 2026 at 8:30 AM
The time Souness rejected move from Liverpool to Barcelona
Key Things to Know
  • Graeme Souness rejected a two-year contract offer from Barcelona before joining Sampdoria from Liverpool in 1984.
  • Souness completed a £650,000 permanent transfer to Sampdoria because he required a three-year contract abroad for family reasons.
  • The former midfielder ruled out ever returning to manage Rangers, explaining his direct management style would not suit modern players.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness revealed he turned down a two-year contract offer from Barcelona in 1984, opting instead to join Italian side Sampdoria in a £650,000 permanent transfer. Souness explained that he needed a three-year deal abroad due to his wife's inheritance circumstances, prompting his decision to head to Italy, which he viewed as the premier destination for top players at the time.

Following his spell with Sampdoria, Souness became player-manager at Rangers in 1986. Speaking on BBC Scotland, the 73-year-old ruled out ever returning as Rangers manager, stating that his abrasive management style would not suit modern football. He also discussed his new book and noted that Derek McInnes' Rangers team currently holds a psychological edge over Celtic.

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