The inside story of Liverpool’s four-year chase to sign Jari Litmanen and what really happened

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I cannot access the full content of that specific article from the search results provided. The search results only include the headline and a brief description from that URL, not the complete article text. However, I can provide a summary based on the related information from the other search results about Jari Litmanen's journey to Liverpool: **Jari Litmanen's Path to Liverpool** Jari Litmanen's arrival at Liverpool in January 2001 represented the culmination of a four-year pursuit by the club.[1][3] The Finnish forward, a Champions League winner with Ajax in 1995, was first approached by Liverpool manager Roy Evans in 1997.[3] In that initial attempt, Evans visited Litmanen in Amsterdam, but the player declined to force a transfer, respecting Ajax's unwillingness to sell him.[3] A second opportunity arose in 1999, but Litmanen again chose a different path, eventually signing with Barcelona.[3] His time at the Spanish club proved disappointing, hampered by injuries and struggles to adapt to the playing style demanded by then-manager Louis van Gaal.[4] When Liverpool finally secured Litmanen on a free transfer from Barcelona in January 2001, it represented a significant coup for manager Gerard Houllier.[2] Despite arriving midway through the season, Litmanen made an immediate impact, contributing to Liverpool's historic treble-winning campaign of 2000-01, capturing the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, and League Cup.[2] During his debut campaign, Litmanen appeared in 43 matches and scored 9 goals, showcasing the technical brilliance and vision that had made him a world-class talent.[2] However, an injury prevented him from participating in the final matches of the treble triumph. He remained at Liverpool for 20 months before departing for Ajax in August 2002.[2]