Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo has revealed that he "almost" signed for Liverpool while playing for Santos, but he rejected the Reds on the basis that he simply did not want to play for them.
The Brazil international attracted the attention of several European heavyweights thanks to his exploits as a 17-year-old in his homeland, where he scored eight goals in the 2018 Brasileiro campaign.
Real Madrid ultimately won the race to prise Rodrygo away from Santos, paying €45m (£38.6m) to bring him to the Bernabeu, where he has become a fundamental figure in Carlo Ancelotti's system.
Now 23, Rodrygo has registered 52 goals and 40 assists in 207 matches for Los Blancos, including a remarkable brace in his side's Champions League semi-final second-leg win over Manchester City in the 2021-22 season.
That continental title is one of nine major honours that the winger has won in the famous white jersey, and despite having to become accustomed to a central role this season, he has hit double figures in La Liga for the first time.
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Rodrygo opens up on "very good" Liverpool offer
Boasting 15 goals and eight assists from 42 games this term - including three strikes and two assists from eight Champions League games - Rodrygo is expected to start in tandem up front with Vinicius Junior for Tuesday's quarter-final first leg with Man City at the Bernabeu.
However, the 23-year-old could have been lining up against the Premier League champions at least twice more each season had he swapped Santos for Liverpool, whom he has revealed made a "very good" offer for his services.
Rodrygo still had unfinished business at Santos, though, but while it was a straightforward decision for the Brazil international to turn down the Reds, he did not think twice about jumping ship for Real Madrid.
"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," The Mirror quotes Rodrygo as saying.
"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.
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"I always said I preferred Real Madrid and when they came I didn't even have to ask questions, so 20 minutes and it was all done. I think everyone who knows me since I was a child knows I've always been a Real Madrid fan. I always told my dad I'd play for Real Madrid and when they came I didn't have any doubts at all."
Could Rodrygo still end up in the Premier League?
The Liverpool ship may have sailed for Rodrygo, who extended his Real Madrid contract until 2028 back in November, but speculation surrounding a summer move to England is heating up once more.
The former Santos starlet has previously voiced his displeasure at having to revert to a central role from his favoured right-wing position, although the impending arrival of Kylian Mbappe may see Ancelotti shift back to a 4-3-3 from the current 4-3-1-2 he employs.
Alternatively, Mbappe's capture could bump Rodrygo down the pecking order, and it has been claimed that Manchester United could fork out an astronomical £103m to buy him out of his Real Madrid contract.
The Red Devils may even be prepared to go as high as £129m, but Real are under no pressure to let the 23-year-old leave, especially when his €1bn (£857.7m) release clause is factored into the equation.
Ben Knapton
