Liverpool took somewhat of a gamble last year when they decided to buy Thiago Alcantara for £20million from European champions Bayern Munich, as they knew they could get him for nothing just a few months down the line.
The Spaniard was available last summer and was reportedly well aware of Liverpool's internet in signing him a year before the expiration of his contract.
Thiago, widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, wanted to go to Liverpool, but the fact remained that at the time the Reds knew they could wait six months and sign him for nothing.
In the end, they forked out the £5m up front to get the deal done, with the rest to be paid over the course of Thiago's four-year £200,000-per-week contract.
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