'Some discussions with Rafa': Former Arsenal player says he was so close to joining Liverpool in 2008
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Liverpool have missed out on some sparkling signing down the years.
The Reds have a brilliant squad at the moment and have done for some years now. But things have not always been so prosperous at Anfield.
During the Rafa Benitez years of the mid-to-late 2000’s, Liverpool were far from being the attractive proposition they are right now.
The Reds’ finances were extremely tight. Without FSG calling the shots, Liverpool were really struggling to match the fees being thrown around by the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and even Arsenal.
Portugal legend Luis Figo has detailed how close he came to joining Liverpool in 2005, for example, while there are many more similar stories besides.
And it turns out that one of those comes from former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey. Back in 2008, Ramsey was a prodigious 18-year-old looking to make the step up from Cardiff City. According to the Welshman, Liverpool liked what they saw and made a move to try and sign him.
Aaron Ramsey reveals Rafa Benitez dicussions
Now 33, Ramsey is back at Cardiff, currently seeing out his playing days in the Championship. It is the culmination of a career which has perhaps not quite fulfilled the potential it once had.
Nevertheless, the Wales legend still made the most of his move to Arsenal. Ramsey played 369 times for the Gunners across 11 years in North London, winning three FA Cups.
At his best, Ramsey was an equally silky and robust midfielder who had a real eye for goal.
And had things turned out differently, his years in England could easily have been spent adding those qualities to Liverpool’s already stacked midfield.
READ MORE: Rafa Benitez raves about ‘quality’ Liverpool player after win over Chelsea
Appearing on Sky Sports Monday Night Football alongside Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher on Monday evening, Ramsey revealed that Liverpool were in the mix to sign him 16 years ago.
“Yeah, they were some discussions with Rafa, but at the time, they couldn't really get to that fee,” said the former midfielder, who also played for Juventus.
“I think they could do something around the million or two million mark, but then I think it went above that, towards the five [million], and that was sort of the end of that. Rafa was very good.”
Aaron Ramsey could have given Liverpool title boost
On paper, Liverpool’s midfield in 2008 was fearsome. The supporters certainly thought so, anyway, coining the memorable ‘best midfield in the world’ chant which sometimes still gets an airing on the Kop even today.
Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and of course Steven Gerrard were the bedrock of a side that ran Man United so close in the Premier League in 2008/09.
The other player named in the song was Malian enforcer Momo Sissoko. However, with an eye injury continuing to hamper him, Sissoko was not the player he once was in 2008 and was sold to Juventus that January.
As a result, Benitez clearly wanted to beef up his options. After targeting Ramsey, though, the Spaniard ended up empty-handed. Liverpool did not bring in a new midfielder.
Although Ramsey was young and only featured nine times in the Premier League for Arsenal during his debut campaign, maybe he could have made a difference in the Reds closing the four point gap to Man United at the top of the table. What could have been.
