Rodrygo is the newest title on the switch hearsay mill, and it’s of little shock attributable to Liverpool’s longstanding curiosity, which just about noticed the winger be part of the membership at 16.
Rodrygo is an thrilling, versatile ahead who finds himself going through the prospect of a bit-part function in Actual Madrid‘s ahead line subsequent season beneath Xabi Alonso.
He may, due to this fact, be open to a transfer and for the second summer season in succession, Liverpool have seen their title linked with the Brazilian amid experiences that Luis Diaz has advised the membership of his need to depart.
Rodrygo can play on the left, proper and thru the centre and thus claims from Spanish paper AS that the Reds have joined Arsenal in a pursuit of the 24-year-old are definitely believable.
Liverpool’s curiosity within the ahead dates again to 2017, when the membership tried to signal the then-teenager for simply €3 million (£2.6m) from Santos.
“We didn’t shut the deal as a result of I didn’t wish to,” Rodrygo defined to the Guardian final yr.
“I wished to remain at Santos despite the fact that the provide was excellent. The pathway they promised me would even have been excellent for my profession. I used to be going to complete my research in England to organize for European soccer.”
Rodrygo would have been simply 16 on the time, and he remained along with his boyhood membership till Actual Madrid got here calling two years later for €45 million.
Michael Edwards’ longstanding curiosity
Michael Edwards formally took on the function as Liverpool’s sporting director in 2016, and on the time Rodrygo was thought of one of many brightest younger prospects in Brazil.
He had not signed his first skilled contract and Liverpool had been seeking to get forward of the curve, just for Santos to dig their heels in to disclaim Edwards and Co.
The ahead’s former agent, Nick Arcuri, defined Liverpool’s curiosity throughout an interview in 2020, with Edwards taking part in a outstanding function.
He stated, through translation: “When Rodrygo went to make his first skilled contract at Santos, he was 16, a Liverpool director known as me.
“He stated that Klopp already knew the participant, had seen the fabric, and he would let me know if he’s coming to Brazil to see Rodrygo personally.
“He already knew the participant, had seen the fabric, had already come to see Rodrygo personally.
“He had gone on YouTube, searched ‘skills from Brazil’, Rodrygo had appeared and he was very younger. He got here to Brazil, and appreciated him. He contacted me, the Liverpool director wished him to be his first signing.
“I went to London, Liverpool have an workplace in London. I introduced the proposal to Modesto, then president of Santos, he didn’t settle for it.
“It was already the sale of Rodrygo, so from 18 he’d go to Liverpool. It turned out that Santos didn’t wish to promote Rodrygo, and so they made the primary skilled contract.
“So Rodrygo’s first official proposal, he was 16 and it was Liverpool.”
Edwards is a identified admirer and can have stored tabs on Rodrygo over time, who he’ll nonetheless view as a participant with loads of upside at 24 with 383 senior membership and worldwide appearances, together with 92 targets.
