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Liverpool found Rodrygo on YouTube however Brazilian sealed Actual Madrid switch at Anfield


Liverpool have turn out to be used to shedding out to Actual Madrid, however not even Trent Alexander-Arnold signed his Los Blancos deal at Anfield.

Solely Rodrygo has that honour, however his near-decade hyperlinks with the Reds may lastly come full circle with a switch this summer time.

Rodrygo barely featured under new Madrid boss Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup

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Rodrygo barely featured underneath new Madrid boss Xabi Alonso on the Membership World CupCredit score: Getty

talkSPORT understands that preliminary talks between Liverpool and Actual Madrid over Rodrygo are believed to have taken place.

Luis Diaz is the topic of curiosity from Bayern Munich, whereas his fellow left-winger is equally destined for pastures new.

The Brazilian made 51 appearances throughout all competitions for the Spanish giants final time period as he registered 14 targets and 10 assists.

Nevertheless, he has fallen out of favour underneath former Anfield hero, Xabi Alonso, with Gonzalo Garcia, Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler all being favoured to accomplice Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr in assault.

Having began and registered an help within the 1-1 draw with Al Hilal in Madrid’s first Membership World Cup recreation, Rodrygo performed simply 27 extra minutes within the the rest of the US match.

He did not characteristic in any respect in opposition to Juventus and Pachuca, and was additionally an unused substitute within the 4-0 semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

However the man dubbed by Jude Bellingham as Madrid’s most gifted participant has not been wanting suitors, which incorporates Arsenal.

Liverpool want no convincing of Rodrygo’s expertise, who turned considered one of many gamers the membership have been crushed to the punch by Madrid.

In an alternate timeline, Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Rodrygo may have all been taking part in for the Reds.

So as to add additional insult to harm, Madrid additionally managed to snare ex-Liverpool vice-captain and academy celebrity Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool’s interest in the versatile attacker dates back to 2017

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Liverpool’s curiosity within the versatile attacker dates again to 2017Credit score: Getty

Rodrygo vs Luis Diaz

2024/25 Stats

Video games: Rodrygo – 54, Luis Diaz – 50

Objectives: Rodrygo – 14, Luis Diaz – 17
Assists: Rodrygo – 11, Luis Diaz – 8

The 15-time Champions League winners already had a historical past of finalising agreements for gamers close to Anfield, as Rodrygo proved.

Throughout Jurgen Klopp’s first full season in command of the Reds, he had tried to signal the 24-year-old when he was solely an adolescent.

Liverpool’s chief government of soccer, Michael Edwards, who returned to the membership in 2024, was the sporting director that 12 months in 2016.

Rodrygo was nonetheless plying his commerce in his Brazil homeland, and Klopp flew to Sao Paulo personally to observe his improvement.

The teenager had not but signed his first skilled contract, and Liverpool have been determined to get forward of their European rivals.

His agent, Nick Arcuri, defined to Canal do Nicola in 2020: “When Rodrygo went to signal his first skilled contract with Santos, aged 16, a Liverpool director referred to as me saying that Klopp already knew the participant, had seen the fabric, had already come to see Rodrygo personally.

Klopp was a long-term admirer of Rodrygo

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Klopp was a long-term admirer of RodrygoCredit score: getty

“He had gone on YouTube, searched ‘skills from Brazil’, Rodrygo had appeared and he was very younger.

“He got here to Brazil and preferred him. They contacted me, the Liverpool director needed him to be his first signing, Rodrygo.”

Former Manchester Metropolis midfielder Elano was working at Santos in early 2017 when he acquired wind of Liverpool’s cut-price deal.

“I went to the board and mentioned, ‘No, no, we will not let him depart for this,'” He advised BBC Sport.

Jude Bellingham reveals Actual Madrid’s most gifted participant isn’t Kylian Mbappe or Vinicius Jr

“It was a 3m euro provide solely, and the talks have been already at a complicated stage. It was just about a performed deal. They’d a verbal settlement, however I insisted, ‘We will not do that’.

“He was simply 16 years previous again then and, though the staff had excessive hopes for him, it was not clear but when he could be taking part in for the senior aspect. So I went to Rodrygo and advised him, ‘We are going to promote you quickly. You’ve gotten my phrase.’

“A short time after, I ended up taking cost as a caretaker supervisor and so, a lot ahead of anticipated, I may do what I had promised him.

“I introduced him to coach with us and gave him his first minutes as an expert footballer.”

Rodrygo was one of football's most highly sought-after talents at Santos

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Rodrygo was considered one of soccer’s most extremely sought-after skills at SantosCredit score: Getty

Rodrygo in the end spent one other season at Santos, however a 12 months later, he was at Anfield signing for his new membership… solely it wasn’t Liverpool!

A lot of the Kop had eyes on Alisson Becker, and former Purple pair Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho when Brazil beat Croatia 2-0 at Anfield in a World Cup warm-up match in June 2018.

But simply metres away from the pitch in a field at Liverpool’s historic floor, Rodrygo was finalising a transfer to Madrid.

On the eve of the sport, Santos’ then president Jose Carlos Peres met Actual’s chief scout Juni Calafat in a restaurant subsequent to Brazil’s staff lodge in Merseyside.

“Our discuss did not final greater than half-hour. They’d come to Liverpool to shut a deal and weren’t prepared to depart the desk with out one,” Peres advised Bleacher Report.

Rodrygo's first Anfield visit came during Brazil's win over Croatia

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Rodrygo’s first Anfield go to got here throughout Brazil’s win over CroatiaCredit score: Getty
His Merseyside return saw him help eliminate Liverpool in the 2020/21 season

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His Merseyside return noticed him assist eradicate Liverpool within the 2020/21 seasonCredit score: Getty

Rodrygo has loved a glut of success since arriving on the Santiago Bernabeu, successful the Champions League twice.

His best particular person spotlight stays his dramatic two late targets to finish a semi-final comeback win over Manchester Metropolis in 2022 en path to Madrid’s 1-0 triumph in opposition to Liverpool a month later.

That was one of many 4 wins he has in opposition to Liverpool from 5 video games, having missed the 2-0 defeat final October via harm.

Explaining his determination to reject Liverpool final 12 months, Rodrygo mentioned: “We didn’t shut the deal as a result of I didn’t need to. I needed to remain at Santos despite the fact that the provide was excellent.

“The pathway they promised me would even have been excellent for my profession. I used to be going to complete my research in England to organize for European soccer. It had all the time been my dream to play in Europe.

“Every little thing was excellent, however my want spoke louder. I needed to remain at Santos and make a little bit of historical past on the membership.

Rodrygo's place in the starting XI has been sacrificed for Mbappe

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Rodrygo’s place within the beginning XI has been sacrificed for MbappeCredit score: Getty

“And that’s what occurred: I used to be capable of fulfil my dream of taking part in for Santos. But it surely’s true, I nearly went to Liverpool.”

By the point the summer time switch window shuts, that assertion is perhaps rephrased to – ‘It’s true, I went to Liverpool…’

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