Signed in the summer of 2009 to replace the outgoing Xabi Alonso, few would deny that Alberto Aquilani’s spell at Liverpool was nothing short of disastrous.
The Italian joined from AS Roma for a fee of £17 million, and was heading out the door after just one season in a red shirt.
In the midst of recovering from an ankle injury when he signed for Rafael Benitez’s side, 26 forgettable appearances prompted several Serie A loan spells, prior to his eventual sale in 2012.
In an interview with Italian outlet Di Marzio (relayed by the Liverpool Echo), Aquilani said:
It was hard. I had to go to England, to a cold place, a huge change, but I played with incredible players. Torres, Mascherano, Kuyt, and Gerrard: one of greatest I have every played with. The fact that he was there influenced a lot, I’m not hiding it, he’s a champion.
Every year [at Roma] I received an important offer, I said no to Inter, and Juve, together Roma and I turned them all down.
The year that I was injured, Roma was having financial problems and needed to make a big sale. Vucinic and I had several offers, and so it goes.
Despite not wanting the move, Liverpool fans will at least be glad to hear Aquilani praise such former stars as those he mentioned, but the now 34-year-old will go down in history as one that got away.
