Current Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he tried to sign Steven Gerrard when he was in charge of AC Milan.
However, the 55-year-old Italian has said that the bond the player had with Liverpool at the time was “unbreakable”.
Ancelotti, who was in charge at the San Siro between 2001 and 2009, before going on to manage Chelsea and Paris St Germain, guided the Rossoneri to two Champions League crowns and the 2003/04 Serie A title.
He had seen Gerrard – whose career can be followed at bluesq – as a potential partner for Andrea Pirlo at the heart of Milan’s midfield but admits he was unable to prise the former England captain away from Anfield.
Losing their way
It may be that Ancelotti was interested in signing Gerrard when the player was trying to engineer a transfer to Chelsea in 2005, a time when the midfielder thought the Reds were losing their way.
At the time he initially turned down a £100,000-a-week contract to stay at Anfield while Liverpool rejected a £32million bid from Chelsea at the same time as Real Madrid were reportedly interested in securing his services.
Gerrard did of course eventually have a change of heart and has become a one-club man, the amazing Champions League success of 2005 when Liverpool came back from 3-0 down to eventually beat AC Milan in a penalty shoot-out, being the highlight of an incredible career.
No Real move for Sterling
He is closing in on 500 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, having featured in at least 20 matches in every season since 1999/2000.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti has also admitted that he was interested in signing Mario Balotelli while he was at PSG but opted to bring in the Sweden international Zlatan Ibrahimovic instead.
The Real Madrid manager has also dismissed speculation linking his club with a bid for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling, saying his side already had “extraordinary talent”.
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