Liverpool rue €3m transfer BLUNDER in Salah replacement hunt

Cameron Smith

Updated: 8 Apr 2024 12:08 BST
3 min read

Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo has admitted he rejected a €3 million move to Liverpool back in 2017, two years before he joined Los Blancos.

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The 23-year-old has blossomed into one of the world’s best attackers during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, but he has been heavily linked with a summer departure amid Kylian Mbappe’s impending arrival.

The France international is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of June, and Rodrygo is the most likely to lose his place in the Los Blancos starting XI as a result.

Arsenal and Liverpool have both been touted as potential destinations for the Brazilian winger, although Rodrygo is reportedly willing to remain in the Spanish capital and fight for his place under Carlo Ancelotti.

However, he has revealed that a move to Liverpool was on the cards seven years ago.

Rodrygo rejected Liverpool transfer

Ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie against Manchester City, Rodrygo admitted that he had the opportunity to join Liverpool for €3m, but he decided to remain at Santos instead.

“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. The pathway they promised me would also have been very good for my career. I was going to finish my studies in England to prepare for European football.

“It had always been my dream to play in Europe. 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.”

Rodrygo then joined Real Madrid two years later in a deal worth €45m. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) now stands at €80.9m - 27 times the amount Liverpool would have paid if they had secured his services back in 2017.

He has netted 15 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions this season, and would be the perfect replacement for Salah at Liverpool if the Egyptian moves to the Saudi Pro League.

The frustrating thing for Liverpool is that he could’ve joined them for just €3m in 2017 and will now likely cost at least €100m.