Steven Gerrard: 'Real Madrid wanted me to cause a war at Liverpool' | OneFootball

Trying to imagine Steven Gerrard in a Real Madrid kit is a very weird thought, but the reality is that Los Blancos attempted to snatch him up on two occasions: once in 2005 and once in 2009.

Of course, the Liverpool legend declined and ended up staying at Anfield for the next five seasons before finishing his career with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy.

On Jamie Carragher’s ‘The Greatest Game’ podcast, the Rangers boss revealed how Real Madrid wanted him to create an internal war at Liverpool in order to force a transfer away from Merseyside.

“I think if all the Chelsea stuff didn’t happen and Mourinho, when he came for me around 2010 (2009), maybe you look back and think: imagine playing for Madrid for a year or two,” Gerrard said.

“Imagine going and playing for Mourinho in the Champions League – that would’ve been an unbelievable experience. Of course it would. But it didn’t happen.

“Basically, Madrid wanted me to cause a war at Liverpool to get out. That was the only way that could’ve happened.”

In 2005, Madrid had a €30m bid for Gerrard rejected, with the Reds wanting €45m plus Rubén de la Red, Álvaro Arbeloa, and Javi García.