In an interview with Liverpool Echo – Emre Can revealed that he turned down a chance to return to Bayern Munich and, instead decided to sign for Liverpool.

The Germany Under-21 midfielder spent last season at Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen where he was then expected to return to Bayern Munich who secured a buyback option which would have been triggered in 2015.

The 20-year old made his switch to Merseyside after Liverpool activated his £9.75million release clause in the summer. The German is close to making his comeback after a month out with an ankle injury.

“There were some discussions with Bayern this summer but I decided the best thing for me would be to accept the opportunity to come to Liverpool.

“Before I came here I had discussions with Brendan Rodgers and that made my mind up. From those talks I was very positive about this move.

“This whole club is very ambitious and positive about how it wants to play football. That’s the way I want to play football too.”

Can came through Eintracht Frankfurt’s youth ranks before been signed by Bayern at the age of 15. Making his first-team debut in 2012, the midfielder played with the likes of Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger – however, Can only made four first-team appearances.

2013 saw Can’s move to North Rhine-Westphalia club, Bayer Leverkusen where he played under Liverpool legend, Sami Hyypiä. Despite only been at Leverkusen for one season, Can netted four goals and four assists whilst operating a defensive role.

Chairman of the Bavarian club, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge regarded Can as: “one of the biggest talents in German football.”

Bayern are known for loaning their youth players, such as Toni Kroos to Leverkusen, David Alaba to Hoffenheim and Lahm to Stuttgart.

“The situation was that I wasn’t getting much match time at Bayern,” Can said.

“As a young player you need games under your belt. Leverkusen wanted me and I took that chance. I’m glad I did as they gave me the chance to play.

“When I left Bayern for Leverkusen it was never certain that I would go back there. You can never say what will happen in the future.

“Last season I was fully committed to Leverkusen, I wasn’t think about what would happen years down the line.

“I went there [Bayer Leverkusen] as a young player who needed to be given the chance to play and I’m very grateful that Sami gave me that chance.

“I know Sami is a legend here and I’m thankful for everything he did for me.

“I put the effort in during training and played better than others so I got into the team,” said Can.

The midfielder couldn’t have wished for a worse start to his life at Anfield, after picking up a calf-injury during pre-season.

Despite recovering, Can then picked up ankle ligament damage playing for German Under-21s last month and has been forced to sit out the past seven matches.

However, the German is hoping to play a part against Premier League side, QPR next Sunday.

“I should be fit and available for the QPR game but of course whether I play any part in that game is down to the coach and how I get on in the training sessions next week,” said Can.

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