Jamie Carragher confirms Liverpool held transfer talks with Cristiano Ronaldo

Jamie Carragher has recalled when Cristiano Ronaldo almost signed for Liverpool instead of Manchester United. Speaking fervently on the Overlap podcast alongside Gary Neville and Ian Wright, the Anfield icon said that former manager Gerard Houllier was in talks with Ronaldo’s agent back in 2003 to secure a move from Sporting CP.

Ronaldo ultimately went to Manchester United, much to the disappointment of Carragher who expressed his longing for such a talent at Liverpool. He lamented: “I would say Cristiano Ronaldo [is the player I most wanted to play with] and the reason I say that is because when he actually signed for United I think we were in for him.”

Shedding light on the fine margins that define football’s sliding doors, Carragher continued with a story told by Phil Thompson, hinting at how close Liverpool were to clinching Ronaldo’s signature before it hit the headlines that he was bound for Old Trafford.

“That was when Gerard Houllier and Phil Thompson – Phil Thompson tells the story that he thought we had him. He was speaking to the agent and before you know it, it breaks on Sky Sports News ‘Ronaldo’s gone to United’ – and I think of what we lacked probably in the best teams I played in at Liverpool.”

He then nostalgically recalled Liverpool’s rich history of standout players but pinpointed a void in their lineup, reminiscing about the dearth of a world-class wide player since the days of John Barnes. Carragher’s musings about having Ronaldo at Anfield underscore the significance of such would-be signings, as he concluded: “I think we had world-class or great players in every position over a 10-year period, but I don’t think we ever had a world-class wide player.

“Listen, we had the best in John Barnes, late eighties, but I think if you got through the nineties, I don’t think we ever had a player of that ilk.” Phil Thompson, the assistant manager of Liverpool at the time, has also previously recounted a dinner in Lisbon with Ronaldo’s agent, Tony Henry, where they discussed the transfer details.

It seemed almost certain that Ronaldo would soon be donning the red of Liverpool, but Sir Alex Ferguson swooped in and convinced him to join Manchester United instead. Thompson was stunned when he learned that Ronaldo had decided to join Liverpool’s arch-rivals.

He told The Athletic about the moment he found out: “On the Tuesday morning, we were having lunch at the training ground and it came up on the yellow strap on Sky Sports, ”Manchester United have signed Cristiano Ronaldo for £12.2million’. Gerard and myself almost choked on our food.

“I can remember Gerard jumping up and saying, ‘What the hell has gone on there?'” Despite Liverpool boasting top wingers like Harry Kewell, Luis Garcia, and Dirk Kuyt from 2000 to 2010, none could match Ronaldo’s impact at Manchester United. Ronaldo scored an impressive 118 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils from 2003 to 2009, clinching three Premier League titles, two League Cups, an FA Cup, a Community Shield, and a Champions League before his record-breaking move to Real Madrid for £80million.

The football icon’s stint at his old stomping ground in 2021 was less than triumphant. Despite an impressive 27 goals, his time was overshadowed by disputes, including a notable clash with the then-new manager Erik ten Hag. The partnership ended prematurely in November 2022 when both parties agreed to part ways.

Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his sentiments at the time, saying: “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early. I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”