GARY NEVILLE revealed the moment that he tried to convince Steven Gerrard to join Manchester United.
On the Stick to the Football podcast with SkyBet , Neville, 51, revealed how he boldly asked the legend to sign for their arch rivals.
Gary Neville admitted he was ordered by Ferguson to convince Steven Gerrard to join Man UtdCredit: Overlap
Steven Gerrard shut down any chance of him joining Man UtdCredit: Overlap
, 45, was both hated and respected by United fans after his undeniably sensational career playing at Anfield.
Sat around the table, the icon recalled the international break in March 2004.
had pulled the defender for a “bizarre conversation”.
And admitted he told the Man Utd boss that he would persuade the Liverpool legend – who was coming to the end of his contract – to join the Red Devils.
But when Neville went marching in to see Gerrard on international duty, he received the “most politest respectful ‘no f*** off’ [he’d] ever heard”.
He joked: “Thanks Ste.”
But it was another rival club that would come within a whisker of luring Gerrard away from Anfield.
The future England star handed in a transfer request in 2005, in the hope of joining ‘s , but then reversed his decision overnight.
Ambitious transfers were historically not unusual for Fergie’s Man Utd.
Neville named , , and , as examples of successful, yet controversial moves.
He said the Liverpool frontman might have considered for three seconds, to which Gerrard joked that was longer than he thought.
Gerrard said: “I’m guilty of a little bit of flirting [with transfer offers].
“I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t.”
Steven Gerrard captained Liverpool to Champions League victory in 2005Credit: Getty
But Gerrard admitted when Neville came knocking, his first thought was: “What the f*** is he knocking at my door for?”
In the following Spring, Gerrard led Liverpool’s famous Istanbul comeback against.
On the historic evening, the Reds roared back after the break, striking three times in a stunning six-minute blitz with Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and hauling it level at 3-3 – before penalties crowned Liverpool champs.
Eventually, Gerrard left Liverpool at the end of the 2014/15 season and became the second captain to join after .
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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