Manchester United made several attempts to convince Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to switch base to Old Trafford but the midfielder stayed put at his boyhood club during a storied career.
Gerrard represented Liverpool in 749 matches and scored 190 goals while winning multiple titles. His former England teammate Gary Neville has recalled how approached Gerrard during a national camp after being asked by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
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“I have just remembered when Sir Alex asked me.. when I went into his (Gerrard’s) room with England and asked him to sign for United. I felt as though it was a bit of a hopeless (case),” Neville recalled during Stick to Football podcast.
Gerrard was also approached by Premier League rivals Chelsea and La Liga giants Real Madrid but to no avail.
“What would it have been, 2004? He was close to going to Chelsea and Sir Alex rang me and said he’s anxious. I think his words were ‘Tell him I’ll fetch him and take him back down the East Lancs and bring him back’. I went to see Stevie and he was quite categoric quite quickly! He said ‘Seriously, I wouldn’t get out of Liverpool and my family would never get out of Liverpool’. Those were his exact words to me,” Neville said.
In an interview in 2013, Gerrard revealed he trialed for Manchester United at the age of 13 and the club wanted to sign him up for seven years.
“I went on trial at Manchester United when I was 13 and had a letter from them wanting to sign me on a seven-year-deal,” Gerrard told BT Sport.
Gerrard though expressed disappointment at Ferguson calling him not a ‘top, top player’ in his autobiography.
“I’m a huge fan of Alex Ferguson and what he’s done in the game is fantastic, that’s the reason why he’s sold that many copies in the first week, I was generally a little bit gutted when I read that, the reaction of the papers, when he said I wasn’t a top, top player. But I won’t lose sleep over it, everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Gerrard said.
“He tried to sign me in early 2002-03, he tried to sign me again to play for United, I obviously refused, so I can’t really take it to heart too much. But I’m a bit gutted because I’m a big fan of his,” he added.
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