Klopp discovered star on YouTube but he signed Real Madrid contract at Anfield

Liverpool missed out on signing Real Madrid star Rodrygo for just £2.5million in 2017 after Jurgen Klopp discovered the Brazilian on YouTube before agreeing to join the LaLiga giants during a friendly at Anfield.

The Reds face Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday knowing one of their top players could have worn their colors had things gone their way some seven years ago, when Liverpool were in “advanced talks” to sign Rodrygo (then of Santos) contract. – price agreement.

Rodrygo, who has been injured from this week's match, spoke out about the botched move earlier this year but quotes from his former agent and ex-Santos boss Elano explaining the ordeal have come to light.

Agent Nick Arcuri said Klopp had traveled to meet the player in Brazil after watching clips of his performances online.

He explained to Canal do Nicola in 2020: “He had gone on YouTube, searched for 'talents from Brazil', Rodrygo had appeared and he was very young. He came to Brazil and liked him. They contacted me , the Liverpool director wanted him to be his first signing, Rodrygo.”

Elano then revealed that he intervened when Liverpool were about to complete a deal for Rodrygo as the price was too low, and convinced him to keep the promise of more first-team action.

He told BBC Sport in 2022: “I went to the board and said, 'No, no, we can't let him leave for this'. It was an offer of just €3 million and talks were already at an advanced stage. was pretty much a done deal. They had a verbal agreement, but I insisted, 'We can't do this.'

“He was only 16 years old at the time and although the team had high expectations of him, it was not yet clear when he would play for the seniors. So I went to Rodrygo and said to him: 'We will promote you soon.' You have my word.”

That intervention paid off as Real Madrid would sign Rodrygo for £37 million just a year later, but the location where he put pen to paper for his Los Blancos was ironic to say the least. In the summer of 2018, Brazil played a World Cup warm-up match against Croatia at Anfield and Rodrygo signed his contract in a hospitality box at the stadium.

The move turned out to be a great decision for Rodrygo. He has won two LaLiga and two Champions League titles since his arrival, scoring 57 times in 231 appearances.

The 23-year-old explained why he decided against joining Liverpool earlier this year, simply saying that he was reluctant to leave Santos at the time after fulfilling his dream of playing for the Brazilian team. “We didn't do the deal because I didn't want to,” he said. “I wanted to stay at Santos even though the offer was very good.

“I wanted to stay at Santos and write a piece of history at the club. And that's what happened: I was able to realize my dream of playing for Santos. But it's true, I almost went to Liverpool.”