Steven Gerrard has revealed how Real Madrid tried to ’cause a war’ with Liverpool in a bid to sign him in 2010.
The 39-year-old is widely seen as one of the Reds’ greatest players of all time, if not the best.
Barring a spell at LA Galaxy at the very end of his playing days, Gerrard spent his entire career at Liverpool, making 710 appearances over a 17-year period.
That’s not to say there wasn’t constant interest in him, however, with a move to Chelsea almost materialising in 2004 and 2005.
Jose Mourinho also tried to bring Gerrard to Real Madrid in 2010, having always been an admirer of his talent.
Speaking on The Greatest Game with Jamie Carragher, the Liverpool legend revealed how the move appealed in some ways, but that he never wanted to damage his boyhood club:
I think if all the Chelsea stuff didn’t happen and Mourinho, when he came for me around 2010, maybe you look back and think ‘imagine playing for Madrid for a year or two.
Imagine going and playing for Mourinho in the Champions League – that would’ve been an unbelievable experience. Of course it would. But it didn’t happen.
Basically, Madrid wanted me to cause a war at Liverpool to get out. That was the only way that could’ve happened.
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I believe Gerrard would have been fantastic for Real Madrid, even though he was just past his peak in 2010, following an award-winning 2008/09 campaign.
The dynamism and quality he would have brought to their midfield would have been devastating, particularly as La Liga is slower-paced than the Premier League.
It speaks volumes about Gerrard’s loyalty that he stayed put, however, spending five more years at Anfield.
Liverpool losing Gerrard to Chelsea in the mid-2000s would have been far more damaging, though, considering he was in his prime at that point, and the Blues were a direct rival.
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