Alessandro del Piero, the former Juventus forward, has revealed he rejected the opportunity to talk to Liverpool because of the Heysel disaster.
Thirty nine Italians were killed at the 1985 European Cup final when an hour before kick-off a large group of Liverpool hooligans breached a fence separating them from a neutral area which contained Juventus supporters, who ran back on to the terraces and into a concrete retaining wall, seemingly away from the threat.
However those already seated near the wall however were crushed, before the wall collapsed, killing more supporters. Astonishingly, the game still went ahead despite bodies lying in the stands.
A distraught fan weeps on the pitch
And the rawness of the tragedy affected Del Piero's decision-making, who now plays for Sydney FC in Australia.
"Why I said no to Liverpool? Negotiations with Sydney were already advanced and then I thought about what had happened at Heysel," Del Piero told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Juve and Liverpool were able to rebuild the relationship, but for many people that tragedy is an indelible memory. I thank all the clubs which wanted me, but I'm convinced of my choice."
Del Piero playing at Anfield in 2005
Fourteen fans were convicted of involuntary manslaughter, while English clubs were banned from European football for five years after the atrocity.
Juventus' old ground, the Stadio delle Alpi, used to not only pay tribute to the fallen on 29 May 1985 via their well choreographed banners, but their innovation was also a mouthpiece for their disgust.
When the sides met in the Champions League quarter-final in 2005 - 20 years on from the tragedy - Juventus fans were appalled at Liverpool offering an olive branch.
Come the minute's silence prior to the first leg match at Anfield, almost every Juve supporter turned their backs to the pitch and raised their middle fingers at the procession.
Chillingly, one banner seen at a Juventus match emanating from their supporters read "5.4.89. GOD EXISTS", in reference to the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, when 96 Liverpool fans died at the hands of police incompetence.
Liverpool were interested in signing Del Piero on a free transfer after they failed to bolster their strikeforce during the summer transfer window.
Andy Carroll has been allowed to leave on loan with Luis Suárez burdened with the task of providing more goals for the profligate Reds.
The Uruguayan has however struck seven times this season, scoring six of Brendan Rodgers' side's nine Premier League goals.