Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has said Liverpool made a “very good” offer to sign him two years before he joined the Spanish club but the deal fell through because he “didn’t want” to move to Anfield.
The 14-time European champions paid Brazilian club Santos more than £39 million for Rodrygo when he was 17 – but Liverpool almost completed his signing for £2.6m, according to the Guardian.
“The pathway they promised me would also have been very good for my career,” the Brazil international told the outlet.
“I was going to finish my studies in England to prepare for European football. It had always been my dream to play in Europe.
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“We didn’t close the deal because I didn’t want to. I wanted to stay at Santos even though the offer was very good.
“Everything was very good but my desire spoke louder. I wanted to stay at Santos and make a bit of history at the club.
“And that’s what happened: I was able to fulfil my dream of playing for Santos. But it’s true: I almost went to Liverpool.”
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Liverpool transfer rejected by Rodrygo
A Santos debutant as a 16-year-old, Rodrygo came on as a late substitute for his first Uefa Champions League triumph when Madrid beat Jurgen Klopp’s side 1-0 in the 2021/22 final.
He has also won La Liga twice and the Copa del Rey among a haul of trophies at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with perhaps his most memorable performance coming against Manchester City in the 2021/22 Champions League semi-finals.
Madrid were losing 5-3 on aggregate when Rodrygo was introduced after 68 minutes of their home second leg, proceeding to score twice in 90 seconds as part of their 6-5 aggregate win.
City earned revenge in last season’s semi-finals, drawing the first leg 1-1 in Spain and winning the return game 4-0 on their way to winning the competition for the first time.
Rodrygo, who has three goals and two assists in eight Champions League appearances in 2023/24, started both games.
The teams will meet again when Madrid host City in their first leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday.
