Liverpool were inches away from completing new signing but missed out on €3M bargain

Liverpool narrowly missed the opportunity to secure Real Madrid's Rodrygo for a mere £2.6 million, a revelation that has come to light after an interview the Brazilian conducted.

At just 23 years old, Rodrygo has been steadily making his mark at Real Madrid since his transfer from Santos in 2019, a move that involved a significant €45 million deal.

However, it has now been disclosed that Liverpool could have acquired his services for a fraction of that amount.

In a candid discussion with the Guardian, the Brazilian international, who has donned the national jersey 22 times, shared how close he was to joining Liverpool back in 2017, a full two years before Real Madrid secured his signature.

The Guardian highlighted the financial aspect of the Liverpool deal that never materialized, pointing out that the Reds were prepared to spend just €3 million on Rodrygo, who was only 16 at the time.

Looking at today's market, Transfermarkt estimates Rodrygo's value at around €100 million, suggesting Liverpool missed out on a potential €97 million bargain. Given Rodrygo's current age of 23, it's plausible his market value could ascend even further.

Delving into the reasons behind his decision to decline Liverpool's offer, Rodrygo pointed to his deep-rooted connection with Santos, his childhood club.

Despite acknowledging the attractiveness of Liverpool's proposal, which included completing his education in England as a step towards adapting to European football, Rodrygo felt compelled to remain in Brazil.

“We didn’t close the deal because I didn’t want to,” Rodrygo said. “I wanted to stay at Santos even though the offer was very good.

“The pathway [Liverpool] 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.”

Had Rodrygo made the switch to Anfield, he would have joined Liverpool's impressive attacking lineup, which at the time boasted talents like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, along with Roberto Firmino. This addition could have further bolstered Jurgen Klopp's formidable forward line.

Ultimately, Rodrygo's journey took him to Real Madrid in 2019, where he has since lifted nine trophies, including two La Liga championships and a Champions League.