Liverpool were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign Real Madrid’s teenage star Rodrygo when he was still in Brazil with Santos, according to the player’s agent.
Winger Rodrygo signed for Real in the summer of 2018, but he was allowed to stay on loan at Santos for one more season in order to further his development.
When he did eventually move to Madrid at the beginning of the current season, it wasn’t long before his ability saw him promoted to senior side from the B team, and he has gone on to score seven goals in 18 appearances for Real this season while also picking up his first two Brazil caps.
But of things had been different, Rodrygo could be playing his club football alongside compatriots Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino at Anfield.
(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)
The 19-year-old’s agent Nick Arcuri says Jurgen Klopp was very keen to sign Rodrygo when he was just 16, and even made a trip to Brazil to see him in action.
“When Rodrygo went to sign his first professional contract with Santos, aged 16, a Liverpool director called me saying that Klopp already knew the player, had seen the material, had already come to see Rodrygo personally,” Arcuri told the Canal do Nicola YouTube channel.
“He had gone on YouTube, searched ‘talents from Brazil’, Rodrygo had appeared and he was very young. He came to Brazil, and liked him.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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“They contacted me, the Liverpool director wanted him to be his first signing, Rodrygo. I went to England, sat in London, Liverpool have an office in London. I brought the proposal to Modesto [ Roma Junior], then president of Santos.
“Modesto didn’t accept. It turned out that Santos didn’t want to sell Rodrygo and instead made the first professional contract. But it was Rodrygo’s first official proposal, he was 16 and it was Liverpool.”
Whether or nor Klopp did make such a trip is up for debate, but if Liverpool were aware of Rodrygo’s talent then it again goes t show how their scouting network has improved immensely of late.
Liverpool"s transfer offer for Real Madrid star Rodrygo after Jurgen Klopp visit - Mirror Online
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