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Steven Gerrard: Real wanted me to start a war for the sake of a transfer
The legendary captain of the Reds could leave more than once, but always remained loyal to the club and only before the end of his career went to the United States.
Europe's top clubs tried more than once to sign Steven Gerrard when he shone at Liverpool. In conversation with his old friend and former clubmate Jamie Carragher, Stevie G recalled these stories.
Perhaps the closest he came to leaving was in 2005, when he submitted a transfer request and seriously considered a move to Chelsea. "The Blues were then offering £37.5m for Steven - money which, as Harry Neville put it, could now buy half of Fred.
"I took into account the way I was playing, the flirtations from Chelsea, the ego and the coldness between me and Rafa Benitez," says Gerrard. - 'Maybe if there had been a bit more maturity and experience there, we could have avoided some of the shit that came out or how far things went. But at the same time, maybe I needed to do that with Liverpool to make them realize the whole situation."
"It's always nice to know that other clubs appreciate you as a footballer. I think more about a couple of seasons with Mourinho at Madrid than a few with him at Chelsea. I don't regret not moving to Chelsea. I don't regret anything at all. I can bring my boys to play, I get invited to coach in the academy - that's the relationship with Liverpool that I want."
There was also the possibility of leaving for Real Madrid, but Gerrard would have had to ruin his relationship with Liverpool to do so.
"You look back and think, 'To imagine what it would have been like to spend a season or two in Madrid under Jose Mourinho, to play with them in the Champions League - an unbelievable experience', but it didn't happen," recalls Stevie Gee.
"Real wanted me to wage war on Liverpool for the transfer, it was the only way to make the move happen."
Carragher adds: "Captain, I remember you telling me about the incident on the pitch with Raul. When we beat them 4-0, he came up to you after the game and asked you if you would transfer."
"I'm not sure if it was in complete earnest, but there was a certain flirtation. A very slight one," Gerrard replied.
But it wasn't just Chelsea and Real Madrid who were serious contenders for Steven. There was also the possibility of him moving to Bayern.
"You always think about whether you would have enjoyed playing for a foreign club. I had a crazy opportunity at the Euros. Schweinsteiger's career was nearing its sunset and I was being approached with serious offers on the phone. Do you represent Bayern? How big is it?"
"What an experience it would be to move to Munich. But then you think, 'Wait a minute, I'm captain of Liverpool, why would I change anything?' I'm already at a big club. At 24 or 25 I didn't have that maturity."
Gerrard refused to look where the grass is greener and remained at the club until the 2015/16 season, when he moved to LA Galaxy to spend his final campaign as a player before turning to coaching.
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