One former Liverpool star brutally insisted he did not want to sign for Manchester City.
City are among the richest and most successful clubs in world football.
Indeed, 2023 saw Pep Guardiola’s men round off a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble with the Club World Cup in December.
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But they've not always been as attractive a proposition as they are today.
Former Liverpool star Daniel Agger admitted that he rejected a move to City during his Anfield days, despite being surplus to requirements on Merseyside.
Agger spent eight years at Liverpool after signing from boyhood club Brondby in 2006. He became one of the club’s first-choice centre-backs enjoying partnerships with both Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel.
And while his good performances sparked rumours of a departure to the likes of Barcelona and City, two clubs where he was more likely to win silverware, Agger insisted he always wanted to stay at Liverpool.
Speaking on 'Aldo Meets' Podcast, hosted by Liverpool legend John Aldridge, Agger said: "I remember I got presented for all these things and the club asked me what I was going to do and I said, ‘If you want me here, I will stay’. But I said, ‘If you don’t want me, if you don’t see me as part of your future I think it’s time that I go because I want to play football.
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"I don’t know the story from their side, I think they agreed a price (with Barcelona) and they accepted it and came to me and said, ‘This is it’. I said, ‘Okay, fair enough’”.
City, who were four years into their Abu Dhabi ownership, were able to trump Barcelona’s offer, but Agger insisted he did not want to move to a Premier League rival.
The 39-year-old continued: "I said, ‘If you want to sell me I go down there (to Barcelona) otherwise I don’t go’.
"And another offer came in from the same club (Man City), higher, and my feeling was that the club wanted me to go because it was a lot of money back then.
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"I said, ‘There’s no chance I’m going to that club, so better just stop now’".
The centre-back ultimately left Liverpool in 2014 and returned to Brondby where he spent two seasons before retiring.
Topics: Liverpool, Manchester City, Premier League, Transfers
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