Gary Neville Tells Story About The Time He Tried To Convince Steven Gerrard To Sign For Manchester United
"My family and me would never be able to go back to Liverpool ever again..."
Gary Neville once tried to convince Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to join rivals Manchester United while on international duty with England - but the conversation was "very short".
In a transfer special segment on Monday Night Football, former United full-back Neville, who made over 600 appearances for the Reds, spoke about the incident alongside another Liverpool great, Jamie Carragher.
You can see the clip below. This is brilliant.
Neville has previously spoken about approaching Gerrard while at the European Championship in 2004. In his autobiography Red, he wrote: "Steven Gerrard is undoubtedly a world class player and I wish he'd played for United.
"I went on a tapping-up mission at Euro 2004 when I knew Chelsea were trying to take advantage of Liverpool being in turmoil.
"'Come play for United,’ I said one day to Steven when we were in the hotel. 'The fans will take to you in no time.' He just laughed, and said: 'I’ll do it if you go to Anfield.'"
Gerrard went on to verify those claims in his own book, My Story, in 2015.
"My agent, Struan Marshall, told me that, under Fergie, United had a decent pop at trying to sign me," Gerrard said.
"Gary Neville would knock at my door during England camps. He’d come in for a chat and let me know how much United would love me to play for them. Gary told me Fergie had sent him."
It's common knowledge that Sir Alex Ferguson did all he could to lure Gerrard to Old Trafford as he looked for a Roy Keane replacement in the early 00's.
In fact, he offered Gerrard a three-year contract to sign for United, according to The Athletic, but the Liverpool-born midfielder declined and the rest is well, history.
Ferguson controversially went on to claim Gerrard was not a "top, top player" in his own autobiography - a quote that surprised the former Liverpool captain.
“In 2004, Ferguson had called me ‘the most influential player in England, bar none’ and suggested that ‘anyone would love to have Gerrard in their team’," Gerrard said.
“So I was a little hurt and surprised when 13 years later, Ferguson used his autobiography to insist he was one of the few who never thought I was ‘a top, top player’.
“I wouldn’t lose any sleep but I was slightly taken aback after all his praise."
Since those quotes emerged, the pair have become friends. In fact, Gerrard recently admitted that the former Manchester United boss helped him during his spell in charge at Rangers.
“I’ll let you into a little secret: I’ve had a couple of conversations with him,” Gerrard said after picking up the William Hill Scottish Football Writers manager of the year award last year.
“Since I retired we have parked our rivalry up and he gave me time on the phone to bounce a few things off him, a few questions to do with the management up here at Rangers.
“He was fantastic in those conversations. At some point moving forward I’d love the chance to sit down with him and have a coffee. He’s agreed to that and that’s fantastic from his point of view because he doesn’t have to give me his time, especially being a rival.
"But I think that goes to show what type of man he is. He’s not just the iconic manager we all know.”
You can watch the full episode of Carragher and Neville's transfer special below:
Topics: Football, Steven Gerrard, Gary Neville, Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Liverpool, Premier League, England
Jack Kenmare