Former Real Madrid and Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart has revealed how close he came to joining Liverpool.
In 2002 Liverpool wanted to sign him when he was still a teenager and the Dutchman claimed that former Reds manager Gerard Houllier personally called him to convince him to move to Merseyside.
He told the Athletic: "I was a teenager. Gerard Houllier called me saying they wanted to buy me — he said, 'I talk with Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and they'd really love to play with you and blah blah blah.'
“But I was like, 'No! I want to stay with my parents and with Ajax. No chance. So yeah, all nice, but sorry, I'm really going to stay with my parents'. He was like, 'No they can also come'.
“I had done just one season for Ajax. I was nothing and I really wanted to stay and win titles. I was not ready.
“Now sometimes players aged 15 or 16 go from Holland to England because they are offered big money.
“I never thought about it."
